South of the old graveyard of Kilmocomoge (signed from the road as Lady’s Well) is the still much revered and beautifully kept Tobairín Mhuire – the Little Well of Mary.
The site is enclosed in blue and white railings and there are some jaunty blue seats looking up towards the statue of the BVM who gazes down protectively from her white illuminated niche, snakes at her feet.
The statue was erected in the Marian Year of 1954, a special year ordered by Pope Pius to increase the faith and devotion to the BVM. Many statues and grottoes were erected during this time but I think this statue is especially attractive. The white marble plaque informs:
Erected by the people of Kealkill and the surrounding district in honour of the immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady. 8 December 1954.
Plaque under statue
Edit: In August 2023 I was delighted to hear from Mairéid Sullivan who had some very personal and interesting information to share about the information about the shrine:
My father, John “Jack” (O’)Sullivan built this shrine above Lady’s Well, including the surrounding walls. In late 1951, our mother, pregnant with our sister, Noreen, (Hanora Bridget) was rushed to hospital in Cork City with a serious infection. The entire community gathered at Lady’s Well to pray for her. Following her full recovery and Noreen’s birth in May 1952, our father expressed his gratitude by building this shrine, situated above Lady’s Well, with the help of our mother Mary Hurley’s brother, Uncle Denis Hurley, of Lisheens, and our father’s brother Michael “Mick” O’Sullivan, of Lackareagh, Kealkill, with support and encouragement of local friends.
Mairéid now lives in Australia but has fond recollections of her early years in Kealkill.
Below the statue is an impressive collection of niches surrounding the small well, all containing statues, offerings and rosaries.
A colourful array of cups invite you to take the water, which is clear and cold. The water may have been used fro baptism and is said to hold a cure for toothache and pains. It could be drunk on site, rubbed into an afflicted area or taken home.
This site, on the edge of the stream, has such an otherworldly feel to it, a tranquil place just to sit for a while.
Our Lady is said to have appeared here and rounds were traditionally held here on the 15th August, Lady’s Day or the Feast of the Assumption as this entry from the Schools’ Folklore Collection describes:
… The well in Kilocomogue is situated about one hundred yards from the graveyard. It is surrounded with trees. It is said that the blessed Virgin appeared here and now there is a statue of her erected there. Rounds are made there on the fifteenth of August, and relics are left behind at the well such as money – half pence and farthings and rosary beads are hung on the branches of the trees overhead. Next day the tinkers gather there and collect the relics left behind at the well. There is an ash tree growing beside this well. The people in the nearby houses tried to use the water of this well for household purposes. They put the water in a pot and it changed into fish.
SFC:081:0284
Today it all looks so peaceful but the annual pattern of 1848 was far from tranquil. This account appeared in the The Southern Reporter on August 28th:
Homicide at Bantry
On Friday and Saturday last, the Constable F Baldwin esq, held an inquest at the Court House Bantry, on the body of John Murphy of Droumduff, who was killed in faction fighting between the Flynns and the Murphys, who had assembled together at the annual pattern at Lady’s Well on the lands of Lisheens. The deceased, it appears, was knocked down with a blow of a spade, given by a man named William Downey, and while down, was struck with a stone to the chest by a woman named Margaret Flynn. He died about four hours later. Several others were most severely beaten. Head Constable Grant, and the Police Force under him, have arrested several of the parties accuses. Several have been identified and three have been committed on the Coroner’s Warrant. A verdict of wilful murder was delivered by the Jury at 4 o’clock on Saturday evening against eight persons as principals and against seven as aiding and abetting … It is right to say that exertions have been made for some time by the Clergymen in the vicinity … to prevent people from attending wells and patterns.*
Southern Reporter, 1848
Today Mass is still celebrated on the 15th August but proceedings are far more orderly. The old church and graveyard is also worth a wander around.
Lovely description – it is a tranquil and charming well.
I remember our visit to this well. It’s obviously much visited and respected – great!