Tobermurry — Duagh (clanmaurice By.)

This is marked on the 1841-42 and 1915 OS maps as 'Tobermurry' (Tobar Muire - Virgin Mary's Well) and known locally as 'Tobairin Muire'. Situation and Description: This is a small, very slow spring on a little slope in a grove of trees. It has recently been built up with stones and concrete. Rounds/Offerings: The well is still visited, especially on the Saturday before May Day. During each of three rounds, one rosary is recited. Frequented by people with sore or diseased eyes. Legends: (a) Our Lady appeared at the well, (b) An old man was cured of blindness there. Holy well recently described by Hanbidge (2011, 16-17) as follows; 'the holy well is situated adjacent the graveyard on the southern side of a small stream that runs parallel to the southern boundary. The well is situated on a north-facing slope and is surrounded by mature trees which are probably associated with the historic Duagh House Estate. Overall the well and associated features are in good condition and are enclosed by a large multi-sided polygon enclosure which consists of corner-sited square-profile render piers with painted metal railing. A short avenue to the north leads across a bridge over the stream to the splayed entrance adjacent the car-parking area. Some ivy growth covers the piers around the bridge, but is of no immediate concern. A drainage ditch to the south and east of the enclosing boundaries protects the area from animal encroachment. Positioned at the top of the slope to the south of the enclosure is a recent altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The altar is in good condition and is comprised of a roughly dressed rubblestone pier surmounted by a white marble counter, on which is mounted a carved stone hoodmoulding/lintel that is of historic origin, possibly locally sourced from the nearby ruins of the church or Duagh House. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is positioned behind the carved stone hoodmoulding/lintel. Access to the altar is via a concrete path to the south which is in turn flanked by concrete staircases to the east and west. The well itself is situated midway along the eastern staircase on the western side. Situated in a recess to the north, it is circular in plan and consists of mortared rubblestone walls with an upturned tooled limestone window sill reused to form a step to the entrance of the well. During the time of this survey, the well itself was dry. A recent metal collection box flanks the entrance to the well to the south while a render Celtic Cross with the inscription “Tobar Muire” on the plinth block signifies the location of the well. The entrance comprises of a set of double-leaf wrought-iron gates which are hung on the north side of the bridge. A wrought-iron archway displaying the name “Tobar Mhuire” surmounts the outermost piers of the splay entrance where they connect with the surrounding rubblestone walls of the graveyard and road boundaries. Another example of the reuse of an architectural item is the presence of an upturned tooled limestone window sill which forms a step at the Holy Well'. Folklore collected from Dromlegagh School recorded the following tradition about 'Tobar Muire'; ‘There is but one holy well in the parish. It is situated to the north west side of Duagh village. It is called St. Mary's well because it is believed that the Blessed Virgin once appeared there. After the apparition the well burst forth from the earth where she stood and it is still there. It is a narrow little well but it is very deep. There is a stone step going into the well. Some years ago an old man who was blind was miraculously cured after paying a certain number of visits to this well. No cure has been affected there since. The last day of April is a special day for paying visits to this well and all the parishioners may be seen there on that particular day. The rules are to make three rounds around it saying a rosary each time beginning at the mouth of the well and ending there' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0410, Pages 027-8; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613727/4613313). This well was also known locally as St. Bridget's Well, the following folklore was collected from Duagh School; 'There is one holy well in this district. It is situated in the townland of Springmount. It is about one foot and a half deep and it is very small. In the hot weather it dries up, and no water (it) is to be found in it. It is situated near a fence and there are trees growing around it. It is know as St. Brigids well. People visit it on certain days. The days for visiting it are the first Saturday in October and the last Saturday in April. These visits are know as rounds. St. Bridgids is mentioned in connection with the well. The water is recommended as a cure for sore eyes and all other pains. It is said that an old woman name Kate Sheehy washed her eyes with the water and that they were cured' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0410, Pages 088-9; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613728/4613374/4653009?ChapterID=4613728). A second story collected from this school recorded that this was; 'The only holy well of which the natives of this district have knowledge is situated in the towland of Springmount, about three quarter of a mile from the village of Duagh. It is called St. Brigid's well because of the saint associated with it was St. Brigid. It is famous for the cure of sore eyes, and people from all parts of Kery come, and pay rounds at it on certain days the most common being May Day: When people visit the well they leave some thing on the ground opposite it, and those things vary, from a piece of cloth to money. The waters of the holy well cannot be boiled and this is proved in a story which reads as follows: A woman sent her servant girl for a bucket of water and it chanced that the holy well was more convenient than the ordinary well so she decided to take the water from the holy well. When she went home she put the water into the pot to boil. After being over the fire for quite a long time, the woman of the house went to see if it was boiled. She put her finger into it and finding it cold she asked the girl which we she took the water from. The girl instantly confessed and then the woman bade her to throw it out as it would never boil. It is not definitely known if the well concerned was St. Brigid's well or not' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0410, Pages 099-101; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613728/4613385). The origins of this well was recorded from Duagh School as follows; 'There is only one holy well in this district and it is locally as Saint Bridget's Well. It is situated in the townland of Springmount near the Duagh cemetary. It is not definitely known how it became associated with Saint Brigids, but people tell the following story: Long ago there was a monastery where the cemetary is now, and the monks got water from the well. They blessed it, and since then no one has taken water from it for home use. The people of the district believe that it has the power to cure sore eyes and all kinds of pains. The people of the district say that there is a true story about a woman who sent her servant for a bucket of water. The servant finding the holy well nearer than the ordinary well, took the water from it. When she went back to the house she put the water to boil. After being over the fire for a long time, the water was still cold. The woman was surprised and asked the servant where she got the water. The said that she got it at the nearest well. She was then told that it was a holy well and was ordered to throw out the water' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0410, Pages 113-15; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613728/4613399). Ó Danachair (1958, 157-8) recorded the following details about this well; ' "Tobairin Muire" - local. About a hundred and fifty yards from the ruins of Duagh church. A small slow spring in a little well. It has recently been built about with stone and concrete. Still visited; rounds consist of