St. Bartholomew's Well - Tobar Phartholain
*by Jim FitzPatrick
Togher for many centuries was the site of a renowned Holy Well located in the Townland of Doughcloyne. Ancient myth ascribes it and many others around Ireland bearing the name to Partholan who came to Ireland from Greece after the Great Flood. It was said that he possessed the gift of causing water to burst forth from the ground. However he and his followers all perished in a plague at Tara! Allied to this is the parallel association with the apostle Bartholomew which was a later connection during the transition from Paganism to Christianity.
*by Rembrandt
St. Bartholomew's Well in Doughcloyne was located off the main road and was a natural spring which flowed out of slaty rock and more than likely flowed on to merge with the nearby Liberty stream. Holy Wells usually inherited their healing abilities due to the presence of certain minerals ( calcium , sulphates , magnesium and potassium ) in the water which could aid in curing ailments such as poor eyesight or tired limbs. The Well was in regular use as far back as the Middle Ages but fell out of use during the time of the Penal Laws. However in 1745 , a Dr. Barry had it restored to its former glory and thereafter scores of Catholics would flock to it on the Feast Day of St. Bartholomew on 24th of August. There they would indulge in a Patron or Pattern , which included praying and or bathing in the water before retiring to a nearby field for feasting and drinking after believing they had been cured of whatever troubled them.
of visit to St. Bartholomew's Well
in 1748
In
1748 two Englishmen paid a visit to the site and described it as follows: " We went
this morning to that of St Bartholomew , which being the saint’s
day , was surrounded by a vast crowd of Roman Catholics , some upon their
knees at their devotions, and others walking with beads in their hands.
The ceremony here is called a ‘Patron’. The well is enclosed with trees
close to the side of the road and even the sight of it looks refreshing.
When their devotions are done, they retire to several sutlers’ tents
erected for that purpose , some to eat and drink , others to wrestling and
yelling , dancing , noise and merriment , which bought on several boxing
bouts whilst we staid there. "
*A Tour Through Ireland by Two Englishman, 1748
In 1750 , a Frenchman known as Mr. Gallant was cured of blindness by bathing his eyes with the water. As a gesture of his gratitude , he had an avenue of Sycamore trees planted nearby and erected an arched wall over the well. It is said that around the same time , a Mr. David Fox had the use of his limbs restored after immersing his body in the water. The area soon became known as Bartlemy Well. Legend also has it that 20 years later a regiment of soldiers afflicted with scurvy after returning from foreign service who were camped nearby were cured after drinking from the well.
1774
In 1774 Charles Smith wrote a detailed account:
" About two miles SSW from Cork, is a celebrated holy well, dedicated to St Bartholomew. The water gushes out from a slaty rock , through a round hole cut into it , about two feet in diameter , and one and a half feet deep ; it is walled and covered by an arch of stone ; there is an avenue of sycamore trees leading to the well. They relate stories of miraculous cures having been performed by this water , particularly on the person who planted the avenue , and whose name was Gallant, and who they say received his sight by the use of the water. There is a flag stone set up on which there is a cross with an inscription importing that David Fox got the use of his limbs by bathing in it. It is still much frequented on St Bartholomew’s Day , and the evening before , by an infinite number of Romish devotees , who flock to it out of devotion , and for the cure of sore eyes , pains in the limbs etc. It is a pleasant , sweet , soft water , lather immediately with soap , but I could not discover any other appearance , from whence it might receive its healing virtue. "
* Charles Smith , The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork, 1774St. Bartholomew's Well in 1842
*Note trench dug between Sycamore trees
to enable patrons to batheSt. Bartholomew's Well in 1899
*Note railway embankment and absence of Well
The Catholic Church reacting to exaggerated claims of debauchery and merriment surrounding the Well moved to suppress its use but all to no avail. However in 1848 the building of the Cork Bandon Railway saw to its demise. The erection of a railway bridge ( still extant ) and the laying down of the permanent way saw the Well capped. Local myth says that a giant oak tree rose from the location of the Well in protest ( such a tree is in fact nearby! ). Even this did not detract the locals who still journeyed to the location every August up to the late 1950s.
Today St. Bartolomew's Well is no more and on the ground research shows no signs of its former glory. A tiny streamlet is found nearby which flows alongside the remains of the Railway embankment to join up with the Liberty stream ; ghostly traces of a former important aspect of local life and heritage which endured for so many centuries.
*Well was originally situated to left of bridge
St. Bartholomew's Well
Doughcloyne railway bridge
merging with Liberty stream
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