Overview
Seven holes are bored through the flat stone slab that caps the Well of the Seven Daughters (Irish: Tobar na Seacht nIníon), one for each of the sisters a local legend says were cured of blindness, deafness and muteness in its spring. It is a small, plain site on the Atlantic edge of the Renvyle Peninsula – a spring, a slab, and the ruin of a medieval church 100 metres south. Come for the story and the setting rather than any grand spectacle; there is not much to it, and that is rather the point.
The legend and history
Tradition holds the seven sisters were the daughters of a King of Leinster, or of a chieftain from Omey Island. Blind, deaf and mute, they were brought here by their father, who washed their eyes, ears and mouths in the cold spring – and, the tale goes, their senses returned. In thanks he built the church beside the well and dedicated it to them. The sisters went on to preach along the Connemara coast, and a second church on Inisheer, in the Aran Islands, is also dedicated to them. The well was old news even four centuries ago: the historian Roderic O’Flaherty recorded it in 1684.
For generations pilgrims came on pattern days to make the rounds – walking clockwise around the well seven times, reciting prayers, leaving small offerings, and dipping or drinking the water. It was valued above all for healing ailments of the eyes.
The well itself is a natural spring rising from a granite boulder, with loose stones and a whitethorn bush around it. The wider headland carries shell middens dating back some 5,000 years, so people have been living off this shore far longer than the church has stood.
What to see
- The well – the seven perforations in the slab are clear up close; the water is cold and clean. Visitors traditionally take a sip, dip a cloth for the eyes or hands, or simply stop a while.
- The church and graveyard – the ruin keeps three walls, a pointed-arch doorway in the north wall and a broken stone altar, with unobstructed views out to the Atlantic. A modern graveyard adjoins it.
- The coast – the headland gives sweeping views of open sea and rocky shore; on a clear day Inishbofin and the distant Twelve Bens show on the horizon.
Visiting and practical information
Getting there – the well is at the western end of the Renvyle Peninsula, roughly 3 km west of Renvyle village. From Renvyle head southwest to Tullycross, then turn west and follow the coast road towards Cashleen; the well and church are signposted near the small church car park.
Parking and access – a small free car park sits by the ruined church, and a short, uneven footpath leads to the well. It has stone steps and a modest incline, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, though you can take in the coast and the church exterior from the car park. Recent building nearby has changed some of the older approaches, but the main coastal path is intact.
Public transport – there is effectively none to the well itself. The nearest service is the TFI Local Link 432 between Clifden and Letterfrack; you would still have a long walk or a lift from there, so a car is the practical option.
When to go – summer gives the clearest light and longest days for the coastal path; winter brings hard Atlantic winds and slippery ground. Sturdy footwear earns its keep year round.
Visiting with respect – this is a working place of local devotion beside an active graveyard, not a tourist attraction. Do not litter, mark the slab, or remove stones, offerings or plants. The spring water is safe for personal use; leave the immediate area as you found it. Dogs are welcome on the path but keep them leashed near the graveyard.
Nearby attractions
The Renvyle Peninsula has a few worthwhile stops close by:
- White Strand – a white-sand beach a few kilometres on, good for a walk.
- Renvyle Castle – a ruined tower-house overlooking the bay.
- Connemara National Park – within easy reach, with marked trails for longer hikes.
Give the well twenty minutes and the church another ten, then walk out to the cliff edge for the view – early morning, when the light is soft and the headland is empty, is the time to have it to yourself.