Tobermooghna, Mooghna
Townland: Mooghna, Clooney (Corcomroe)
Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting
This holy well lies in a hollow at the corner of a field to the south of a graveyard at Mooghna. The well is contained inside a white-washed wall. It consists of a central area with four shelves and two side shelves. All shelves contain statues or votive offerings. Beneath the bottom shelf is the well which contained fresh clear water at the time of the research visit.
Descriptions of this holy well can be found in historical records from the 19th century.
Ordnance Survey Letters, 1839:
‘There is a small burying ground for children and strangers in the Townland of Mooghna and called Cill-Mhuchna, and a holy well near it called Tobar Mooghna, which is still frequented by persons afflicted with soreness of the eyes’.
James Frost, writing in ‘The History and Topography of the County of Clare: Topography of Thomond’,1894 notes that:
‘At a little distance is a holy well dedicated to St. Flannan, where rounds are yet made. In a townland of the parish, called Killeighnagh is a small burial-ground, and in another place named Mooghna, is noticed a little grave-yard and well styled Tobar Mooghna, used by persons suffering from sore eyes’.
Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well
This well is known as Tobermooghna. Perhaps, as with ‘Kilmoon’ Parish, the saint associated with the site is ‘Moughan’ or ‘Múadhan’. Mooghan was a local saint who is also mentioned in Lisdoonvarna.
Natural Heritage Around the Holy Well
The well lies at the edge of a meadow. Some ash and alder trees offer shade.
Heritage Attractions Nearby
The Wild Atlantic Way is a few miles north of the holy well site.
Discover More…
Ordnance Survey Letters, Royal Irish Academy
Ordnance Survey Letters, Ask About Ireland
Frost, J 1893, The History and Topography of the County of Clare: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the 18th Century, Sealy, Bryers & Walker, Dublin
Record of Monuments and Places Number
RMP CL023-03502
No Comments
Add a comment about this page