What is recorded here

Toberlughan is a circular holy well in County Kerry, Ireland, built from irregular stones and marked on maps from 1841 to 1914. Its western opening holds three slabs, the largest in the centre, waiting for hands that no longer remember the ritual. Soldiers may have drunk there after a lost battle, or butter carriers from Bauragoogeen may have knelt beside it on the road to Tarbert. The water does not judge which story is true; it only refuses to be forgotten.

This is marked on the 1841-42 and 1914 OS maps as 'Toberlughan' (well of [?]). Situation and Description: The well is circular in plan and constructed of irregular stones. On the WNW sector, the opening to the well displays three irregularly shaped slabs, the largest being in the centre. Rounds and Offerings: No tradition survives. Legends: (a) A battle was fought in the vicinity and the soldiers refreshed themselves with its water, (b) People from Bauragoogeen (Barr an Ghúígm) in Moyvane parish, carrying butter to Tarbert, rested and quenched their thirst here. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 894. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 3 August 2013

Toberlughan is traditionally associated with St. Lugan, a lesser-known early Irish saint, and its name suggests a site of local religious or healing significance. Holy wells named after saints like Lugan were often believed to possess curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes or general wellness, and were sites of pilgrimage and ritual observance in pre-modern times.

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