Tobernasool, Tobar na Súil, The Eye Well, previously known as Tobar Ceannaighthe, Ardataggle

James Feeney

James Feeney

Tobernasool, Tobar na Súil, The Eye Well, previously known as Tobar Ceannaighthe, Ardataggle

James Feeney

Townland: Ardataggle, Bridgetown, O’Briensbridge

Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting

The well lies a little to the south of the R466 road. Bridgetown Graveyard is within walking distance of the site. The water from the well is piped a few hundred metres to the footpath where a tap and drain are installed to retrieve the well water. A sign indicates that this is ‘Tobar na Súl.’ The actual well is higher up the slope on private ground.

Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well

Tobernasool translates as ‘Tobar na Súil’, ‘The Well for the Eyes’. This may have been a health well where people came to refresh their eyes or perhaps take water home for soothing the eyes. The old name for the well was Tobar Ceannaighthe, which is quite an obscure title. The name might refer to ‘cost’ or ‘experience’, but how this relates to the well is not known.