Effin's Holy Well in the Ballyhoura's Traditional Cache
Effin's Holy Well in the Ballyhoura's
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
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This Cache is located at a Holy Well in Coilte's Forestry Lands, we ask you to respect and follow the Leave No Trace philosophy .
It is known locally as Toberreendoney ('Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh', which means 'The Well of the King of Sunday') and is located in the townland of Effin, parish of Kilquane. It is about a 4 Kilometer hike from the Waypointed Garrane car park which is off the L1533 Ardpatrick to Ballyhea road. The 'road' to the Garrane car park is much improved since 2016.
The Well is normally accessible through the roads of the forest either on foot or bike, see the 'Holy well' marked with a red cross close to the Garrane Loop which is White Arrows on this link, http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/uploads/tx_r3coillterecreationsites/ballyhoura_garranestreamhill.pdf.
The chaps at the Ardpatrick Bike Park, see http://www.trailriders.ie/ ...will also show you how to get to it if renting a MTB especially as the trails pass withing 50m of it. On a suitable day, during the trek, the views of the surrounding area and towns can be good especially the roof of the massive Lidl warehouse near Ballyhea. Coillte have recently (summer 2014) constructed a little sandstone and gravel path from the main forestry road to the well which is now (2016) marked by a proper sign post.... the Well is only 50 metres down this path. http://tcsinfoland.ireland.ie/content/Multimedia/Attachments/748_85BBallinaboolaLoop.pdf .
The Well is in a circular mound which is an ideal 'seated area' if you bring a picnic and blanket but beware of the infamous Ballyhoura Midges, which can be very active near the well depending on the time of year, so take precautions..... Danaher et al wrote that "the well is within a ring fort and that the overflow of water from the well was used as a water trough for cattle and consists of 9 spring wells surrounding the central spring, itself surrounded by an earthen bank" see (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Danaher). One can see whereby the run-off was collected and fed into a pipework system for use downhill in 2 of the nearby farms and dwellings..
Its not quite suitable for strollers, buggies unless you take a slightly longer circuitious scenic route by going left at the Y at 52°18'46.22"N 8°35'43.48"W but is ok for dogs on leads, keep an eye out for the mountain bikes as one of the bike trails cross your path. You will need hiking boots as 200metres of the route can be 'off road' and bring a rain jacket for those famous Ballyhoura squalls that can blow up from nowhere. If you wish you can return via a different forest road by keeping to the right with great views to rejoin main route at 52°18'46.22"N 8°35'43.48"W and you will still arrive back at Garrane car park.
For the more adventurous & interesting shortest possible? way on foot is from the L1533 Ardpatrick Ballyhea road at 52°19'42.75"N 8°35'45.40"W but you will need wellies or boots as one section of the Bohereen is soft when wet, proceed on foot straight up the Bohereen, through the lock of water until you come to an area which has ribbons tied to the trees on your left & has a distinctive Ballyhoura Bears sign, follow these Ballyhoura Bears signs and trail until you come to the Holy Well. Suggest parking at 'The Idle Hour', though there is some parking during farming off season at gate gaps on the first section of well paved Bohereen.....but do not block access etc. See this note from 1939. http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922039/4921188
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq gur pvepyrq fyno yvrf n fvyirerq gno....