Tobersraheen, Tobar Srathaín, The Well of the Little Stream, Ballybran

James Feeney

James Feeney

Tobersraheen, Tobar Srathaín, The Well of the Little Stream, Ballybran

James Feeney

Tobersraheen, Tobar Srathaín, The Well of the Little Stream, Ballybran

James Feeney

Tobersraheen, Tobar Srathaín, The Well of the Little Stream, Ballybran

James Feeney

Townland: Ballybran, Ogonnelloe

Description of Holy Well and Landscape Setting

The well lies in a sloped grazing field near Saint Molua’s Church in Ogonnelloe, west of the R463. The well, as its name suggests, is part of a stream that emerges from some rocks in a dividing wall. There is a small opening with a lintel overhead to accommodate the flow.

Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well

There are no longer any visitations to this holy well, nor does there appear to be a pattern day. There is no saint associated with the holy well.

Records from the Ordnance Survey Letters, 1839 note that:
‘There is a holy well called Tobar Sraithín, over which there is a white thorn tree ornamented with votive rags. Delicate children are brought to this well that they may be cured by its sacred powers’.

Natural Heritage around the Holy Well

There are some large trees, mostly ash, around the holy well. An old whitethorn which is present at the site may have been the original companion tree of the well.