The Tooth Well, Gleninsheen
Townland: Gleninsheen, Rathborney
Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting
The well lies off the R470, about 1.5-2 kilometres north of Poulnabrone Megalithic tomb. The well lies within a stainless steel protective surround. It is huddled beneath a cairn of stones in a bullaun type depression. Above the well is a shelf containing offerings of money and several toothbrushes.
Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well
This well is a ‘tobar leighis’ or health well, which offers a remedy for illness- in this instance toothache or mouth ache.
Natural Heritage around the Holy Well
The well lies on limestone pavement. Other than a few ferns around the water, there is no foliage here,
Heritage Attractions Nearby
This well lies in one of the most archaeologically rich parts of Ireland. A map of the Burren, such as Tim Robinson’s ‘folding landscape’ is a must when exploring the area.
Additional Information
The townland of Gleninsheen is most famous for the discovery of a Bronze Age ‘gorget’ – a beaten gold collar – found by local boy Patrick Nolan in 1932. A great treasure, it is now part of the national collection at the National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin.
Discover More…
Gleninsheen Gorget, A History of Ireland in 100 Objects
Gleeson, D. F 1934, ‘Discovery of Gold Gorget at Burren, Co. Clare’ in The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Seventh Series, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 138-139.
Record of Monuments and Places Number
RMP-CL005-137
Surveyed by Michael Houlihan
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