Tobernafiaghanta

In a sheltered area of rocky scrub with higher ground to N and W and with a penitential station (CL010-026002-) standing at its NW edge. Named ‘Tobernafiaghanta’ on the Cassini edition (1916) of the OS 6-inch map. According to logainm.ie, ‘Tobernafiaghanta’ can be translated as ‘Well of the Hunters’. A small, natural, water-filled hollow (L 0.5m NW-SE; Wth 0.35m NE-SW; D 0.87m) is half-filled with water (D 0.42m) and contains some votive coin offerings Closely associated, c. 30m to the WSW, is an alignment (NW-SE) of four penitential stations (CL010-026003-, CL010-026004-, CL010-026005- and CL010-026006-). Three more penitential cairns (CL010-026007-, CL010-026008- and CL010-026009-) are located c. 90m to the SW; while c. 400m to the NE is another alignment (ENW-WSW) of four penitential cairns (CL006-140001-, CL006-140002-, CL006-140003- and CL006-140004-) with a fifth cairn (CL006-140005-) offset c. 90m to their S. Summary by: Gearóid Conroy and Lynda McCormack Date of upload: 14 December 2022

Linked to Saint Fachtna, a 6th-century hermit and founder of a monastery in west Cork, the well is traditionally associated with cures for eye ailments and skin conditions. Pilgrims once undertook penitential rituals at the site, reflecting the broader monastic and devotional practices of early Christian Ireland.