Tobernalt - the Well of the Cliff. The alter can be seen above in the foreground, while a replica of the penal cross is placed in the little shrine on the alter.

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Tobernalt A beautiful and tranquil spot at the south foot of Cairns Hill. Tobernalt is an ancient holy well, in use long before the first Christian bell was sounded in Ireland. The spring rises from under the cliff at Cairns Hill - hence the name - Tober an Alt means the Well of the Cliff. It is a powerful and fast-flowing spring, and it's water is said to have cures for both eyesight and madness. Perhaps for this last cure, people with handicaps and disabilities were taken here and washed in the waters in the past. The origins of the 'madness' cure probably has something to do with Maeve the Goddess, whose name means 'The Intoxicating One'. Tobernalt is a fine example of continious use of a site since most ancient times. People began building monuments in this area more than 8,000 years ago, and the two massive cairns on Cairns Hill are probably at least 6,000 years old. The spring flows into Lough Gile nearby, and the neoltihic people would certainly have recognised and used the site, springs having been held as sacred since earliest times. The well was the site of Penal masses, when the Catholic religion was outlawed in Ireland. People used gather at hidden, out of the way locations to hear mass, and Tobernalt was one of these sites. There is a penal alter and cross at the site. The original cross is kept at Cregg House. Tobernalt also has a strong tradition of prayer trees. Left, statue of St Philomina.