Cloghmochuda — Knockreer

Water contained in the depressions of the bullaun stone (KE066-065001-) was regarded locally as a holy well, called 'Tubber na Cuddy (Cuddy's Well)' (Cusack 1871, 409). Healy (1960, 84) recorded that 'rounds' were made here before sunrise on 15th May each year and that the well was still being visited in the 1960s. Traditionally people brought holy water to put into the depressions and said three Rosaries while walking around the bullaun stone (ibid.). Healy also noted an 'altar' with some coins and broken statues, fixed to a tree over the bullaun stone (ibid.). O'Sullivan (1969, 50) recorded an old custom retained in Killarney until 1951, when a group of devout women would gather in the early hours of the three mornings preceding 16th May and go in procession to the bullaun stone and holy well carrying bread for the song birds and holy water. Folklore collected from Clochar na Trócaire School, Killarney, recorded the following tradition about this well; 'Cloc Mo Coda is about half a mile from the town of Killarny. People go there before sunrise to obtain a request or to be cured. People who go there do rounds around the well and while they are walking they say the Rosary. There is a small tree over the well and if the request is granted or if the person is cured a robin will appear on the tree. My mother and three other women were going to do rounds. On the third morning my mother and two of the women saw the robin but the other woman did not. She had gone there to be cured and a short time after she died. People are supposed to leave something on the tree as a token and they have to leave something on the tree as a token and they have to leave a piece of bread for the robin. This is the story that I heard about Cloc Ma Coda. There was once a monk and he lived in the Abbey in Innisfallen. One day he saw a little robin which he followed. The robin perched on the tree that is now over the well. The monk fell asleep on the rock under the tree and he slept for a hundred years. When he woke he went back to the Abbey he did not know how long he had slept. Everything seemed changed. He did not know the monk who opened the door. The monk asked him his name and he told him. Then the monk remembered the story he had heard about the other monk who was lost a hundred years before. He believed that this monk was the long lost monk. He lived with the young monks and after a while he died. The prints of his two knees and forehead are on the rock. They are always filled with water. They never dry even on the hottest day in Summer' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0455, Pages 215-7;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713251/4711467/4715000?ChapterID=4713251). Folklore collected from Clochar na Trócaire School, Killarney, recorded the following tradition about the pattern or stations at this well; 'The station at Cloc Mocuda. This is a Triduum. The way to the Cloc was originally a public right of way. It was closed and enclosed in Kenmare Demesne by a grand jury Order. The custodians took the key for the old pathway from one Irwin who was caretaker at Deenagh Lodge. THE PILGRIM arrived at dawn. She brought with her:- (a) a quantity of plain water in a vessel. (b) Three rags. They were left behind and hung on a Palm tree overhanging the stone. (c) Some fragments of Bread. If the Robin appeared rags were given him. Some think that a priest known as the "Robin" and that the "rags" were in reality the alter linen. Tradition says "if the robin appears your request will be granted. (D) The pilgrim returned to Killarney heard Mass and communicated. (E) The prayers prescribed were the Rosary but if the pilgirm had to hurry away 5 Paters, Aves and Gloria's sufficed. (F) The water used by the Pilgrim from the stone for blessings was to be replaced from the stone brought. The vessel was not to be brought back. (G) The Credo was to be recited on the flag' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0455, Pages 218-9;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713251/4711470/4715003?ChapterID=4713251). See attached colour photographs of holy well courtesy of Amanda Clarke. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 30 May 2011