Tobermoling — Brosna West

Holy Well dedicated to St Moling described in 1985 by the Castleisland Archaeological Survey as follows; 'A spring well still bubbles to the surface here accompanied by a statue to St Molaing. The well is presently enclosed by a plastic fence which is situated on top of a raised pathlike feature c. 2.2m wide. The water from the well is said to cure eye complaints. The well is situated outside of the possible church enclosure [KE032-008003-] to the south-east'. Holy well described by O'Hare (2000, 62-3) as; 'Tobermoling, or St Moling's Well, is situated a short distance to the south-east of a large, probable early church enclosure, the northern portion of which contains the present-day Brosna parish church. The presence of the well is recorded on both editions of the OS maps. The well is situated within a small enclosure, c. 8m in diameter, formed by a low earthen bank, on top of which stands a plastic garden fence. The bank is best preserved on the south-west, where it measures 2.2m in width and stands to a maximum height of 0.5m. A gateway on the north provides access and a pathway runs through the interior. A spring bubbles to the surface in the east portion of the enclosure, overflowing into an iron container. Opposite, immediately to the west, stands a statue identified by an inscription as St Moling, and bearing a date of 1977. The well is still maintained today. The OSNB (1841 Brosna 35) records that St Moling was not a native of this district but of Luachair, somewhere near Graigue, Co. Carlow. The author was informed that devotions took place at the well on Saturdays during the month of May. The water is believed locally to cure sore eyes. It is said never to boil and gold-coloured fish are reputed to have been seen in it, Ó Danachair (op. cit., 162) mentions that the water is said to have cured stiff limbs as well as eyes. He refers to the fish as a trout and records that a cure was certain if it was seen. He notes that three circuits of the well were made while the Rosary was recited during each circuit Small offerings of religious objects were deposited. Formerly little rush crosses were made and dropped into the well. He also records two legends concerning the origins of the well: St Moling caused the well to spring up for the baptism of a blind pagan chieftain and his following; the chieftain was then cured. This motif resembles that classified by Cross (1952, 29) as A941.5.1, where a "spring breaks forth where saint smites rock. The second legend records that the saint cured a girl who suffered from "fits with the water, which again he had brought to the surface. Angels were seen about the well. The author was informed by a local woman that five mounds surrounded the enclosure and a decade of the rosary was recited at each. Upon completion of the rosary, three rush crosses were fashioned and cast into the water. It was then the custom to drink from the well. The mounds referred to however, appear to no longer exist'. Folklore collected from Brosna School recorded the following tradition about St. Moling's Well; 'St Moiling's well is situated in the land of Timothy Lyons of Loughvalla on the south side of the village. The people of this district and surrounding districts have great faith in this well. Great crowds come there, every one with their different complaints, hoping to be cured. These round begin on the first Saturday of May and continue all through that month. This is how the rounds are made. The people kneel at the first mound and say Our Father, ten Hail Marys. They continue going around in that way until three rounds of the beads have been completed. When they have this done they go near the well, make a cross of rushes and throw it into the well. Long ago when the old people knew Irish they had a beautiful prayer to say when they went to the well. " Go mbeannuighthear dhuit, a thobair naomhtha, Mar a bheannuighid na naoimh is na h-aspoil dá chéile, Is cughat-sa a thána ag gearán mo sgéal leat, Is ag lorg mo leighis i gcúntas Dé ort." During Easter it is said that a fish is seen early in the morning in this well. It is believed that the first person that would see the fish in the morning would be cured from any disease or sore he was suffering from. A story is told of Denis Murphy of Caph. This man was paralysed for years. His people one morning brought him to this well, he saw the fish and immediately he was cured. St Moling's father was a Wexford chieftain. He married Neimhnet the daughter of our local chieftain who lived in the Moats. Where the present Church stands they had a little hut where this little boy got his first instruction in the truths of religion. Later on it is said that this man and his son removed up to Wexford and after that Moiling was made Bishop of Ferns' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Pages 314-5; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713225/4709281). A second story collected from Brosna School recorded the following tradition; 'There is but one holy well in my district. It is called after St Moling, who was born near the side of it where his home was. During the month of May, visits are paid by the people of the surrounding districts. There are five humps around the well and on every one of these a decade of the Rosary is said. This is done three times. Then the people who are doing the rounds go to the well and drink some of the water and if they have any sores, they also run the water to them. They then make a cross of rushes and drop it into the well. If whatever request you asked is granted a fish will appear in the water. Mrs Ben gurney was one time praying at the well and she saw a fish in the water. Sometime after she had a son and called him Moling' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 486;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713226/4709427/4816983?ChapterID=4713226). Folklore collected from Brosna School about the origins of the holy well and St Moling recorded that; 'The local saint is Saint Moling. He was born in Brosna and lived there with his parents in a little mud cabin a few fields from Brosna Church. When the cabin fell a well sprang up and it was called St. Moling's well. In this well there is supposed to be a cure for sores. People from Cork, Limerick and all parts of Munster pay rounds to it every Saturday in the month of May. A crippled man came to pay a round and as he was leaving the well he could walk without his crutches. His image is in the Brosna Church at the back of the Altar and was put there by the late Fr. Neligan. St Moling was Bishop of Ferns Co. Wexford' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 513; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713226/4709454/4817039?ChapterID=4713226). Circular-shaped well enclosed by rectangular-shaped drystone structure in the centre of circular shaped area enclosed by low stone wall. Stone forming base of opening to holy well has a curved edge with possible bullaun (KE032-009001-) or shallow depression on upper surface at opening to well. This stone with the smooth curved edge may have been taken from an earlier building or church and reused as the base stone of the opening for the holy well. A large bullaun stone (KE032-009002-) is visible on the N side of the external face of the walled structure enclosing the holy well. According to the sign at the holy well the site was 'restored' in 1998 by the Brosna Heritage Group under the guidance of local sculptor James Scanlon of Brosna. According to the sign the following ritual was carried out at the site; 'A decade of the Rosary is said at each of the five kneelers around the well, going three times around the kneelers. The taking sips of water from the well in their cupped hands'. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 1 June 2022