Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/371

 Collectanea. 335

and at Noughaval, both in Burren. At the last well a huge hollow ash collapsed before 1896, and the fragments rooted and grew up into considerable trees; the pattern was on Feb. loth. The stations at Kilcameen Hospital near Kilfenora had nearly ceased by 1839. In that year the Ordnance Survey Letters record others at Tobermacraven well, in Kilshanny parish ; Clooney, Corcomroe ; Moy, Ibrickan, (Sundays and Thursdays) ; Toberna- manorha, at Moyasta Creek; St. Martin's well at Kilinny or Clarefield in Moyarta ; ^^ Toberkeereen, Killoffin, (on Sundays) ; and Ballynagun, Tobermurry in Drimeliky, and Tobersenan in Carhoo, these three being in Kilmacdiian. We have little infor- mation about these rites in eastern Clare, but stations subsisted in 1839 at Uggoon; St, Brigit's well, Kiltanon; the Tobermochullas at Knockdrumleague and Fortanne ; St. Senan's well, Killaneena, Clonlea ; and at Kilseily. Although opposed by the parish priest, stations were also held at Tobermaleery, south from Newmarket- on- Fergus.

Somewhat different from ordinary patterns are those held on Sundays at Lough Fergus.^^ A credo, paternoster, and other prayers are said, and then the devotees make a circuit round certain cairns, one called the "altar" having a rude "cross" at which the " rounds " commence. There is also a well, Tober- lonan, a Httle more than a mile from the lake near Clooney church (Corcomroe), at which " rounds " are performed, but these are reputed to be useless until after the rites are done at the lake, with which the well is supposed to communicate by a long passage. It is possible that the Lough, being the source of the chief river in County Clare, was an object of worship in early times, as no church nor saint is connected with the shore and cairns, and the " cross " is natural.

There are " rounds " at other wells, but these depend for their time and details on the devotee, who very often does not know even the name of the patron of the well.

^- Moyasta and Moyarta (Moyfertagh) are at opposite ends of the parish of the latter name.

'■^An excellent account, with a photograph of the "altar" and "cross," was published by Dr. George U. MacNamara in the Limerick Field Club /ournal, vol. ii., p. 217.