_Tober Kil-na-Greina_ (the well of the fountain of the sun) was
discovered only about eighty years ago, by a strange chance in the
County Cork.
The land was a desolate marsh, no one built on it, and nothing grew on
it or near it. But a large grey stone lay there, with a natural hollow
in the centre that would hold about a gallon of water, and close by
were the remains of an old pagan fort.
One day, the farmer who owned the land carried off this great grey
stone to use as a drinking trough for his cattle. But not long after
all the cattle grew sick, and then all the children sickened, so the
farmer said there was ill luck in the business, and he carried back
the stone to its old place, on which all the household recovered
their health. Thereupon the farmer began to think there must be
something wonderful and mysterious in the locality, so he had the marsh
thoroughly drained, after which process they came upon an ancient stone
circle, and in the midst was a well of beautiful fresh water. Some
people said there was writing on the stones, and strange carvings; but
it was generally believed to be a Druid temple and oracle, for there
was a tradition that a woman called the _Ban-na-Naomha_ (the nymph of
the well) had once lived there—and that she had the gift of prophecy,
and uttered oracles to those who sought her at the shrine by the well;
and there was a little wooden image of her, also, that used to speak to
the people—so it was said and believed. It is certain, however, that a
pagan temple once existed there, for which reason St. Patrick cursed
the land and turned it into a marsh, and the well was hidden for a
thousand years, according to St. Patrick’s word.
On the discovery of the well the whole country flocked to it for cures.
Tents were erected and a pattern was organized, which went on for some
years with great success, and many authentic instances are recorded of
marvellous miracles performed there.
The ritual observed was very strict at the beginning, three draughts
of water were taken by the pilgrims, the number of drinks three, the
number of rounds on their knees were three, thus making the circuit of
the well nine times. After each round the pilgrim laid a stone on the
ancient altar in the Druid circle, called “the well of the sun,” and
these stones, named in Irish “the stones of the sun,” are generally
pure white, and about the size of a pigeon’s egg. They have a beautiful
appearance after rain when the sun shines on them, and were doubtless
held sacred to the sun in pagan times. The angels will reckon these
stones at the last day, but each particular saint will take charge of
his own votaries and see that the stones are properly counted, for each
man will receive forgiveness according to their number.
But gradually the revelry at the pattern gave occasion for so much
scandal, that the priest denounced the well from the altar, along with
all the wickedness it fostered and encouraged. Still the people would
not give up the pattern, and the drinking, and dancing, and gambling,
and fighting went on worse than ever, until one day a man was killed.
After this a curse seemed to have fallen on the place. The well lost
all its miraculous powers, no cures were effected; the maimed, the
halt, and the blind prayed before it, and went the rounds, and piled
the stones as usual, but no help came, and worst sign of all, a great
pagan stone on which a cross had been erected, fell down of its own
accord, and the cross lay shattered on the ground. Then all the people
knew that the curse of blood and of St. Patrick was indeed over the
well; so it was deserted, and the tents were struck, and no pattern was
ever held there any more, for the virtue of healing had gone from “the
fountain of the sun,” and never has come back to it through all the
years.
Even the _Ban-Naomha_, the nymph of the fountain, who used to manifest
herself occasionally to the regenerate under the form of a trout,
disappeared at the same time, and though she may be heard of at other
sacred wells, was never again seen by the devout pilgrims who watched
for her appearance at the _Tober-kil-na-Greina_.