Toberneevoge, Tobar Naomh Óg, Castlecrine

James Feeney

James Feeney

Toberneevoge, Tobar Naomh Óg, Castlecrine

James Feeney

Toberneevoge, Tobar Naomh Óg, Castlecrine

James Feeney

Townland: Castlecrine, Moygalla, Sixmilebrige (Kilfinaghta Parish)

Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting

This holy well stands in the garden of a private house. It is currently inaccessible due to overgrowth at the well opening.

Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well

The name of the well, Tobarneevoge, means ‘The Well of the Young Saint’. This name does not point to any particular saint or feast day. Before the current house was built, the well was on the outskirts of the village in a grove of whitethorn trees. Visit to the holy well practices ceased in the last 30-40 years.

Natural Heritage around the Holy Well

The well is in a private flower garden, with steps leading from the higher level avenue down to the well opening. A single hawthorn tree marks it location. The tree is in good condition.

Heritage Attractions Nearby

The holy well is on the edge of Sixmilebridge Village. Bunratty Folk Village and Castle are less than 10 kilometres away.

Additional Information

In ‘A Survey of Monuments of Archaeological and Historical Interest in the Barony of Bunratty Lower, Co. Clare’ 1980, William Gerrard Ryan writes:

‘There is a Holy Well in the Townland of Moygalla called Tobar Naomhog or Saint Naomhog’s Well, but no connection can be traced between it and any ancient or modern ecclesiastical establishment.
A short distance to the east of this stone lined well is the site of a children’s burial ground (cill)’.

Is there a possibility that both the holy well and cillín were originally on Church or Monastic land? Perhaps there was a church site here formerly, the old site later being used as a burial ground for infants who had passed away before being baptised.

Ordnance Survey Letters, 1839:

The present Irish name of this Parish is Cill-Fionachta (pronounced Feenaghta) but who this Fionachta was or in what particular part of the Parish his Church was situated nobody now knows, for there is no Townland or locality in the Parish bearing the name of Fionachta.