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Lady's Well (Irish: Tobar Mhuire)[1] is a holy well dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the townland of Ballyda in the civil parish of Danesfort, County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is included in the Record of Monuments and Places under record number "KK023-075----".[2] As of the late 20th century, a pattern was still celebrated at this holy well on 15 August each year, to mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.[1]
Folklore
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There are a number of folkloric tales about Lady's Well in the Dúchas.ie "Schools' Collection", including several which refer to apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the well.[3][4][5] Several of these stories reflect common themes in stories about holy wells generally,[6] such as that water collected from the well will not boil.[5]
Other such tales mention stones spotted with blood,[3][5][7] another theme common in the folklore of holy wells.[6] The origin of the blood at Lady's Well is given as coming from a priest who was killed there by soldiers while saying mass.[8] In one account, the leaves of nearby hawthorn bushes are also covered in spots of blood.[5]
Another account tells of a woman whose eyes were cured after bathing her eyes in the water repeatedly.[3][9]
References
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- ^ a b O'Kelly, Owen (1985). The Place-Names of County Kilkenny (PDF). p. 180 – via kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie.
Ballyda [..] Tobar Mhuire, Our Lady's Well, still frequented on the 15th of August for devotional purposes is west of a large rath
- ^ "KK023-075---- : Ritual site - holy well : BALLYDA". Historic Environment Viewer. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
According to the OS Letters (1839), 'There is a holy well called Lady's Well in the Townland of Ballyda, much venerated still and frequented on the 15th of August
- ^ a b c "Holy Wells". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Holy Wells". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Our Holy Wells". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ a b Ó Dálaigh, Pádraigh (2018). The Holy Wells of County Kilkenny in terms of documentary coverage, location, ritual practice and onomastic concept, vol. I (Thesis). p. 109, 110.
It was believed locally, for example, that the water of certain wells could not be boiled for domestic purposes [..] red-stained stones situated at or beside holy wells were often believed to be the blood stains of martyr-like clerical persons
- ^ "Holy Wells". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "A Story of the Penal Days". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Penal Days". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.