Font

The National Monuments Service's description

Medieval limestone font within Shanagolden church (LI019-012001-) and graveyard (LI019-012002-) described in the Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 228-30) as following; 'Westropp (1904-5, 396) described the font as lying inside the nave of the church as following: 'The nave had arcades with four plain pointed arches to each side, and a curiously fretted font'. The church is now destroyed. The early 19th century three-floored tower survives, however. The font was not located".
Medieval square shaped font (H 0.32m x 0.34m x 0.33m) with conical basin (diam. 0.24m) now housed in the W porch of St. Mary's Church of Ireland church in Askeaton. One face of the font is decorated with a tracery pattern consisting of four square panels each containing an eight-pointed star. The font was possibly designed to be set into the angle of the church with two decorated faces visible to the parishioners of the church. The carving on the font is similar to a font (TS043-034010-) from Kilcooly Abbey (TS043-034001-), Co. Tipperary. The Shanagolden church font was drawn by William Frazer based on original drawings made by John Windele in the mid 19th century (NLI PD 1975 TX 12 (8); NLI Sketch books of Irish antiquities). Cross referenced with LI011-092017-.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 19 November 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.