The Book of Blackrock

Ask and ye shall receive! After my last post I got an email from my friend Denis who said he just saw the book I mentioned on our mutual friend's bookshelf. I emailed her and today have the book in my hands: The Book of Blackrock by Liam Mac Cóil (Carraig Books Ltd, 1977). It would seem that the well got quite junked up after the railway embankment went in. At one time it was so full of rubbish that only a bit of water was trickling out. Either someone cleaned it out between then and now or it cleared itself, because the water sounded very busy down there on Wednesday! On page 15 of the 1981 edition, Mac Cóil quotes his grandmother remembering Tobernea:

Ah, I was very small at the time. My poor father used to bring us down. He hadn't what you'd call very strong eyes. And he'd bring a clean cloth and he'd bathe his eyes in the well; and bring a bit of rag, whatever meaning was in the rag I don't know, but the tree was full of rags, red rags and all classes and colours.

The rags tied to the tree are called clooties and are still common at well sites. Most holy wells have a sacred tree nearby to which pilgrims attach clooties to leave behind an ailment that has been washed with the cloth, or perhaps to remind the local spirit or saint of their prayers. I didn't take notice of a tree near the well on Wednesday but will look closer next time I visit.

Mac Cóil says that the well was a popular place of pilgrimage by people both in and out of town. A pamphlet from the early 18th century written by an unnamed writer talks about 'A Trip to the Black-Rock', when he visited a 'sorry Drinking Hovel' and describes what sounds like rounds performed at a well. The person who brought him to the well talked about someone who regained eyesight 'by the Sanctity of St. Black-rock.'

He also talks about the etymology of 'Tobernea', which seems to be quite up in the air. He agrees that it is likely named for St. Nathy. PJ O'Reilly is quoted in the book and identifies the nea with the New in Newtown (the nearby avenue, a place-name found in Blackrock), and then with someone named Noe or Nathi. Myles Ronan said that in earlier times the area was occupied by a people called the 'Muintir Nathi', which might also lend the nea to 'Tobernea'. Mac Cóil's own conclusion is that nea is an unknown Irish word.

I will add that this book contains the first map I have seen with Tobernea on it, including the modern OS map I borrowed. He also gives pretty detailed directions on how to find the well. What a thrill! If only I had come across this book a year ago.

Thanks to Nastaise Leddy and Denis McArdle!