Font

The National Monuments Service's description

Formerly in St Mary's church in Kilkenny city (Devine and Ó Drisceoil 2005, vol. 1, 17-18). Currently in St. John's C of I Cathedral (see TS061-025101-), at the NE end of the nave, immediately S of the chancel. 

This square limestone font (dims 0.71m x 0.71m; H 0.43m) is chamfered at the angles and around the base. The bowl (diam. 0.58m; D 0.2m) is circular and straight-sided with a flat-bottomed base with a shallow circular depression (diam. 0.16m) around the central drainage hole (diam. 0.05m). Each of the external faces of the font is decorated in relief with eleven round-headed flutes. The pedestal on which the fonts stands is modern and consists of five circular limestone columns. The columns rest on the upper dexter portion of a reused graveslab (TS061-025102- and KK019-026259-) which was originally larger but has been machine cut to form its present shape. The 15th-century font (TS043-034010-) at Kilcooley Abbey has similar fluting on one side.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

References

Devine, E. and Ó Drisceoil, C. 2005 The burial monuments of St Mary's Church, Kilkenny: An inventory. 6 volumes. Unpublished report. Heritage Council, Kilkenny.