Tobercleveen, Tobar Cleíbhín, Tobar Cliabhín, Glendree

Townland: Glendree/Glendrith, Tulla

Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting

The name of this well, Tobercleveen, might mean the ‘Well of the Little Basket’. The location of this holy well seems to be based on a letter in the Ordnance Survey records from 1839. However the original letter was vague about the well’s origins.
The Ordnance Survey inspectors wrote that it was ‘said by some people to have been a Holy Well.’
Among the residents of the townland of Glendree, there was no knowledge of a holy well in the area, either in the present day or in the past.
No trace of the well could be found at the time of the research visit. The area lies at the end of a short boreen leading to a house.The ground where the well is indicated to be is wet and heavy.

Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well

The provenance of the well is no longer known. The well’s name, Tobercleeveen, does not refer to any individual saint. Tobercleeveen, ‘The Well of the Basket’, may also have referred to wickerwork walkways on wet ground to facilitate movement across the land.

Natural Heritage around the Holy Well

The supposed site of the holy well lies east of a private house, in undergrowth. The site is on raised or elevated ground, with typical small hill trees- holly, birch and alder.

Heritage Attractions Nearby

Lough Grainey and Feakle lie at the bottom of the hill. The road west leads to Tulla.

Additional Information

An entry in the Ordnance Survey Letters, 1839 reads:

‘There is another Well in the townland of Gleanndrith called Tubber Cleibhin, i.e., the Well of the Little Basket and said by some people to have been a Holy Well.’