TheDindsenchas ofIrish mythology give the physical origins, and etymological source of several bodies of water – in these myth poems the sources of rivers and lakes is sometimes given as being from magical wells.
Connla's Well is one of a number of wells in the Irish "Celtic Otherworld". It is also termed "The Well of Wisdom", or "The Well of Knowledge", and is the mythical source of theRiver Shannon. TheepithetConnla's Well is known from theDindsenchas.
Another well is described in the dindsenchas aboutBoann, in the text as ("Secret Well") mythologically given as the origin of theRiver Boyne. This well has also been referred to asNechtan's Well, or theWell of Segais.
Some writers conflate both Nechtan's and Connla's well, making it the source of both Shannon and Boyne.
Loch Garman's mythological origin is also given in the dindsenchas – in some translations or interpretations of the text the source of the water is given as theWell of Coelrind, though this has also been rendered asport of .., or evenfountain of ...
In theDindsenchas (Sinann I) refers to a"well with flow unfailing" as the source of the Sinann (Shannon). In (Sinann II) the well is referred to asConnla's well. In the poem the well is associated with the drowning ofSinend, daughter ofLodan Lucharglan,son ofLer, of theTuatha Dé Danann – giving the river its name. Hazel trees, the nuts thereof which fall into the water and feed Salmon are also mention in Sinann II.[1]
Tipra Chonnlai, ba mór muirn, | Connla's well, loud was its sound, |
| (Gwynn 1913, Sinann II, pp.292–293) | |
(Meyer & Nutt 1895) speculated that the nameConnla's Well derived from some event (now lost) happening afterConnla the Ruddy's journey to the land of theAos Si.[2]
(O'Curry 1883) states that there is a tradition that the seven streams flowing from the well formed the rivers including theRiver Boyne,River Suir,River Barrow, andRiver Slaney.[3]
Another well is described inDindsenchas refers to atopur diamair ("secret well") located in theSid Nechtan.[4] This poem tells ofBoann wife ofNechtan, son ofLabraid[5] – the poem derives the origin of another river (River Boyne) from this magic well, and from the mutilation of Boann by the waters of the well.[6]
Nechtain mac Labrada laind, | Nechtain son of bold Labraid |
| (Gwynn 1913, Boand I, pp.28–29) | |
This well is sometimes known as theWell of Segais (Segais means "forest"), from Boann's name in the otherwold, and the Boyne is also known as theSruth Segsa.[7] Other sources also refer to this well asNechtan's Well.[8][9]
In theDictionary of Celtic Mythology (ed.James MacKillop) this well, as well as theWell of Connla are conflated, asWell of Segais, which is stated to be the source of both theRiver Shannon andRiver Boyne.[10]
The termWell of Coelrind has been used with reference to the formation ofLoch Garman as described in thedindsenchas.[11]
In the taleGarman mac Bomma Licce (Garman, son of Bomma Licce) steals the queen's crown atTemair during the drinking during the feast ofSamain. He is pursued to the mouth of theRiver Slaney where the waters burst forth drowning him – hence giving the name ofLoch Garman.[12] In (Gwynn 1913) there is no mention of a well, the place is rendered asport Cóelrenna ("port Coelrenna"). In (Stokes 1894) the place of drowning is translated as the "well of Port Coelrenna", and the water is said to have burst forth as Garman was being drowned.[13] Elsewhere the place is translated "fountain [of] Caelrind".[14]
Connla's Well is a common motif inIrish poetry, appearing, for example, inGeorge William Russell's poem "The Nuts of Knowledge" or "Connla's Well":
And when the sun sets dimmed in eve, and purple fills the air,
I think the sacred hazel-tree is dropping berries there,
From starry fruitage, waved aloft where Connla's Well o'erflows;
For sure, the immortal waters run through every wind that blows.
Yeats described the well, which he encountered in a trance, as being full of the "waters of emotion and passion, in which all purified souls are entangled".[15]