County: Dublin Site name: TOBERMACLUGG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 17:27 Licence number: 01E1152
Author: Georgina Scally, for Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.
Site type: House - 18th century and Ritual site - holy well
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 701190m, N 733961m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.346188, -6.480281
The site of the 18th-century Tobermaclugg House and Holy Well is located in a field of rough grassland and dense overgrowth c. 12 miles west of Dublin city, c. 2 miles south-west of Lucan village. Topographically the site (320m x 160m) is divided in two: a plateau of elevated ground, reputedly the site of Tobermaclugg House, on the western side, and on the eastern side a low-lying valley, reputedly the site of Tobermaclugg Holy Well.
On the elevated ground remains of a building (20m x 10m) were located beneath overgrowth, together with foundations of several outhouses. From map references and site examination most of the structures are thought to be 19th-century in date. However, a gate pillar at the site entrance and foundations of a low wall extending into the site for c. 15m and terminating with a second gate pillar were identified. Although these features are not datable in themselves, the masonry employed in their construction differs from other surviving remains on the site and they may be contemporary with the original 18th-century Tobermaclugg House. Between the upstanding remains, seven test-trenches were excavated by mechanical digger. In no trench were finds or features of any archaeological significance uncovered.
On the low-lying ground in the valley of the site a single test-trench was excavated by mechanical digger. Remains of a well were located c. 0.4m below present ground level. The well was composed of a roughly oval area of cut stone c. 1m in diameter, c. 0.5m high and abutted by three stone steps; it was not fully exposed. The trench was backfilled and no further excavation took place.
81 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4
