Dispute closes famous holy well

MILLSTREET’S famous Tubrid Well, which draws hundreds of pilgrims on busy summer Sundays, is closed to the public due to a dispute between the county council and the landowner.

Tubrid Well is the largest spring well in Ireland. Its name in Irish is Tobar Ide, meaning the well of St Ita, and generations of the faithful have believed that its waters have healing powers.

The land on which it sits has been owned by James O’Sullivan’s family for generations, and James’ father Matthew was one of the founders of the Tubrid Well Committee, the members of which maintain the well and grotto voluntarily.