Tober Murray

Located in mixed woodland at the bottom of an E-facing slope. The name ‘Tober Murray’ on the OS 6-inch maps is properly Tober Mhuire – Mary’s Well (OSNB No. 84, 15), and there was a pattern at this well until c. 1800 (ibid.). However, the memory of veneration seems to have been transferred to Tober Patrick (LE028-065001-) c. 30m to the N by the 1930s, according to the Schools Manuscripts, for which see this web-page accessed on 12/04/2017: http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4658426/4654168 This is a rectangular stone-lined well (dims 0.8m x 0.55m; D 0.7m) with a feature to the S consisting of ten moss-covered stone slabs (dims 0.2m x 0.2m; L 0.9m) laid on top of each other in pairs alternately N-S and E-W. This creates an openwork canopy (dims c. 1m x 1m; H 1.3m) that is closed at the top by a single slab (dims 0.8m x 0.7m). There is an empty masonry shrine for a statue (int. dims 0.4-0.8m; H 1.4m) 3m to the E. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 13 April, 2017

Linked to Saint Mary, the well was a site of pilgrimage and healing, with a pattern (annual festival) held there until around 1800. Local tradition may have blended Marian devotion with older Celtic water rituals.