A popular holy well in County Tipperary has been desecrated by a group which has started using the site for drinking parties. Tobar Íosa at Upper Cahir Abbey, outside Cahir, has been frequented as a place of worship by generations since early Christianity and is one of the diocese of Waterford and Lismore's most noted ecclesiastical antiquities.
People emigrating from the area even took water and pebbles from the well on their journey for good luck, as did British soldiers based in the town’s barracks before going to war.
Not surprisingly, there has been outrage locally at the incident in which vandals prised up the stone slabs of an altar beside the well and smashed them before tossing them down into it.
Meanwhile, the area was found littered with the remains of a large drinking party, including empty beer cans, bottles, the leftovers of a Chinese takeaway and even a homemade glue sniffing device.
Gardaí have appealed to the public for information to assist them with their investigation.
Local councillor Seánie Lonergan said he hopes the outrage over the “absolutely terrible” incident will now deter the local gang who did the damage from using the site for their parties,
"A lot of local people visit this well for peace and tranquillity, particularly the elderly, and there is a Rosary there every first Saturday of the month and a pattern day on Christmas Eve,” Mr Lonergan explained.
He added that Tobar Íosa, which means ‘Well of Jesus’, had a wealth of folklore attached to it which suggested it may have been used as a holy place as far back as the seventh century.
Drinking the well's water was supposed to have been used as a cure for infertility and a nearby holly tree is festooned with rags tied onto it by people who prayed for special favours there.
In fact, Mr Lonergan said, Tobar Íosa consists of two wells, called the upper and lower well, and a third well was discovered nearby some years ago.
Unfortunately, he said, its water was no longer pure enough to drink, however.
The well site has a stone cross carved by members of an early Christian sect which was also only discovered in recent years when holy statues were removed from around the well.
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(Source: CIN)