Tober Patrick

In wet marshy pasture, at the base of the ENE-facing slope of a ridge and to the rear of the disused creamery at Castlebaldwin. The most southerly of three adjacent holy wells with Tober Bride (SL034-186001-) c. 15m to NW and Tober Murry (SL034-186002-) c. 2m to NW. A circular moss-covered stone-lined well (diam. 1.5m x 1.25m; H 0.5m) with an ope to NE. Prof. R. A. S. Macalister (d. 1950), in an undated report, recorded the story that when a great ash tree which grew at the wells was blown down it was said that the sign of the cross was found 'rudely branded in the fractured section of the wood' (SMR (1989) file). According to local information, stations were held here. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

Linked to Saint Patrick, the well is traditionally associated with cures for skin ailments and general healing. It is one of several holy wells in the area believed to have been visited during the May Eve (Bealtaine) festival, when the waters were thought to hold heightened spiritual power.