Tobernalt Holy Well, Sligo, Ireland

Water rises beneath a cliff at Tobernalt, in a wooded setting near Lough Gill outside Sligo. Parishioners care for this outdoor Catholic shrine, where the spring shares the grounds with a Mass Rock, devotional shrines and stations for prayer. Its significance lies in the meeting of water, remembered saintly presence and the continuing life of a local parish.

Tobernalt’s custodians describe a place made holy through generations of pilgrimage. For those who come with intentions for healing, the spring is an expression of faith and hope; the accounts of cures belong to that devotional tradition, rather than establishing a medical effect.

A tradition recorded by Sligo County Library tells that Patrick knelt beside the well and rested his hand on a stone. Marks in the stone became associated with his fingers. The shrine’s own account describes pilgrims placing their hands in those marks while praying. The story makes a small feature in the rock a point of contact with the saint, linking an individual petition with the larger memory of Christianity in the area.

This is a publicly shared local tradition, not a securely dated record of Patrick’s movements.

Garland Sunday, on the last Sunday of July, remains the main annual gathering. The parish also describes Mass, the Rosary and prayer at the shrines throughout the year. Small white crosses mark the Stations of the Cross. Participation should follow the parish’s arrangements; visitors can also make space for quiet reflection without joining a service.

Use the Tobernalt Holy Well parish website for current services and contact details before travelling from Sligo. No verified daily opening schedule, step-free route or mobile-signal assessment was available for this page. The July gathering has its own programme, so confirm the current year’s arrangements rather than relying on an older timetable.

Continue through the atlas by country, tradition, physical form, or a focused search that combines this place’s strongest context.

Explore other sacred places in the region. Proximity does not establish access or travel time; check each place’s guidance.

Tobar Nalt

County Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

0.0 km away

Sligo Abbey

Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

3.4 km away

Carrowmore

County Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

4.8 km away

Knocknarea megalthic site, Sligo, Ireland

County Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

8.5 km away

Sources consulted for this page. Source categories describe the publication, not a guarantee that every claim is verified. Traditional accounts and outside interpretations may differ.

1. 01Tobernalt — Sligo County LibraryofficialPatrick kneeling and hand-mark tradition, not contemporary historical testimony.
2. 02About Tobernalt — St John’s ParishSource contextSpring location, parish care and ongoing worship.
3. 03Explore the Well — St John’s ParishSource contextPublic Patrick fingerprint tradition and devotional features; healing statements are beliefs.
4. 04Tobernalt Holy Well — St John’s ParishSource contextGarland Sunday on last Sunday of July; consult current programme.