The Old Man of the Holy Well
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Where: Sligo, Ireland
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When: Unknown
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If ever there was a photograph of a man taking his ease in beautiful surroundings this must be it. A holy well in Sligo from the Eason collection.
Well done to B-59 for identifying the location just ahead of Niall McAuley , this is the Tobernalt holy well near to Sligo, Co Sligo.
The derivation and meaning of the word "Tobernalt" is uncertain and is open to interpretation. It is an Anglicisation of an Irish phrase, but the uncertainty stems from which actual Irish phrase the name derives from.
Eamonn Boylan holds that the name is more likely to mean the "Well in the Cliff" (Tobar san Aill). This would make sense as the stream comes down through a cleft in the mountain immediately behind the well. This can be clearly seen in the photos section.
However, others believe that the name may mean "Well of the Insane" (Tobar na nGealt). This interpretation may be given some credence as the Cistercians used the nearby Cottage Island as an asylum for the lepers and insane in medieval times. It's almost certain that these people would have rowed the short distance across the lake to visit the Holy Well in search of a cure.
Above details from www.holywell.seomraranga.com/name.htm
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: between ca. 1900-1939
NLI Ref: EAS_3396
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 28871
Well done to B-59 for identifying the location just ahead of Niall McAuley , this is the Tobernalt holy well near to Sligo, Co Sligo.
The derivation and meaning of the word "Tobernalt" is uncertain and is open to interpretation. It is an Anglicisation of an Irish phrase, but the uncertainty stems from which actual Irish phrase the name derives from.
Eamonn Boylan holds that the name is more likely to mean the "Well in the Cliff" (Tobar san Aill). This would make sense as the stream comes down through a cleft in the mountain immediately behind the well. This can be clearly seen in the photos section.
However, others believe that the name may mean "Well of the Insane" (Tobar na nGealt). This interpretation may be given some credence as the Cistercians used the nearby Cottage Island as an asylum for the lepers and insane in medieval times. It's almost certain that these people would have rowed the short distance across the lake to visit the Holy Well in search of a cure.
Above details from www.holywell.seomraranga.com/name.htm
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: between ca. 1900-1939
NLI Ref: EAS_3396
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 28871
eason
easonson
easoncollection
easonphotographiccollection
glassnegative
nationallibraryofireland
well
holywell
ligdoscíth
countysligo
tobernalt
carraroe
connaught
wellinthecliff
tobarsanaill
welloftheinsane
tobarnangealt
cistercians
cottageisland
asylum
lepers
insane
eamonnboylan
locationidentified
20thcentury
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B-59
Tobernalt Holy Well, s. www.flickr.com/photos/magnumlady/2443822670/ www.flickr.com/photos/100812306@N05/9600153916/
B-59
OSI 25" maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,570930,832882,12,9
Niall McAuley
Tobernalt? maybe? OSI 25" That could be the mass rock in the foreground. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/66311327@N05] Snap!
sharon.corbet
It has it's own website.
oaktree_brian_1976
Amen! Great photo.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Brilliant - thanks https://www.flickr.com/photos/66311327@N05 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/gnmcauley. Map updated and "location identified" klaxon rung :)
guliolopez
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/129555378@N07] RE:
It would seem to have at least two :)sharon.corbet
Yesterday's (I think) episode of TG4's logainm was about Holy Wells, and featured Tobernalt. There was a third etymology given "Tobar na nAillt", Well of the Joints, as it supposedly cures joint problems.
philfluther
Woodsman.