Clonard

Described in The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland (1846): "In the steeple, and recently in a neglected state, is a curious old baptismal font, about 2 1/2 feet high and 2 1/2 broad. It consists of limestone or marble; and, in the inside, has the form of a convex demisphere. 'The outside is an octagon composed of square panels, beneath which are 8 other panels that diminish inside toward the base. The upper panels are ornamented as follows:--One exhibits in relief a representation of the Virgin and Child, upon the ass, flying into Egypt. The next is divided per pale into two compartments, the first of which exhibits Joseph leading the ass, whose halter is brought over from the former panel; the second compartment of this panel contains a grotesque figure, holding a book, and having its lower extremity terminating in a true lover's knot. A third panel has St. John baptizing our Saviour, who is standing in a river, while the Baptist pours water in his head out of vessel with his right hand; with the left he holds the arm of Christ, who has his arms placed across his breast in an attitude of devotion. A fourth panel is divided per pale, having in each compartment a grotesque human figure with wings, and holding a shield with both hands. The fifth panel is like that last described; and the sixth differs from them merely in the second figure's holding an open book instead of a shield. The seventh panel is also divided per pale; on the first compartment is the figure of a saint with wings, and holding in his right hand a loose belt, which encircles his waist. This is probably St. Augustine, as the hermits of the Augustinian order wore a leathern belt. The corresponding compartment contains St. Peter with the key. The ighth panel is divided into two like those already described. On the first part is a bishop with a crosier, probably St. Finian.; and on the other is a figure with long robes and a book, in the clothing of a regular canon of St. Augustine. In four of the lower panels consecutively, are representing angels holding shields; and in the other four are trees or shrubs. The base, which consists also of 8 sides, is ornamented with leaves and flowers.'" [NB: the text in single quotation marks is given as a quote, but no source is mentioned]. Described in Cooke (1903): "In the church of Clonard is another interesting font. The basin is octagonal, and the external panels are divided into two compartments filled with Scriptural subjects, such as the Flight into Egypt, the Baptism in the Jordan, etc." Described and illustrated in Roe (1968) and in Pike (1989): elaborately carved octagonal font which must have been brought in from a former medieval church on the site or nearby; the font has deeply chamfered underpanels and stands on an octagonal base which is now supported on a modern rectangular plinth; all the panels of the basin -two per side of the octagon- are decorated: the Flight into Egypt takes three panels, the mounted Madonna and Child over two and Joseph on the next to the right; the next panel to the right has the bust of an angel holding a book over a simple interlace of two three-strand circles [this scene is described in Galloway [cf. infra] as "a grotesque figure, holding a book, and having its lower extremity terminating in a true lover's knot"]; next to the right is the Baptism of Christ; then comes a tree with leaves and berries; then each of the next seven panels -over three and a half sides- contains an angel [Galloway (cf. infra) refers to some of them as "grotesque human figures"] holding an object: the first five hold shields; the next one holds an open book; the last holds a scroll [Galloway (cf. infra) states that he is "holding in his right hand a loose belt which encircles his waist. This is probably for St Augustine, as the hermits of the Augustinian order wore a leathern belt]; the eighth panel is of a human figure identified in Roe (ibid.), and Galloway (cf. infra) as St. Peter; to his right is a bishop holding a staff [Galloway suggests St Finian], while the next panel has an angel holding a book [Galloway has it as "a figure [...] in the clothing of a Canon Regular of St Augustine]. Roe (ibid.) provides a very detailed description of the panel contents one by one; she identifies as well the images on the underbowl sides: the first of four successive panels "devoted to shield-carrying angels" and the next four "comprising foliate motifs" whose arrangement she compares to the Dunsany font. The base appears octagonal as well and the sides are ornamentred with stylized branch motifs which Roe describes as "stiffly unnatural." Roe (ibid.) dates the font "about the turn of the 15th/16th centuries." According to Pike (1989) the font is still in use and has a central drain. Described and illustrated in Galloway (1992), who identifies the material as "grey limestone" and states that the figures are "slightly reminiscent of Chaucer". The font is dated "from 1500" in the Draft Development Plan from the County [source: www.meath.ie/DraftDevPlan/Volume3/1_4.htm]. Noted in Rees (2003) as 15th-century, made of "grey marble limestone", originally from the abbey church: "It can be seen in the apse behind the high altar in the modern Catholic church"; among other scenes on the font, Rees (ibid.) notes: "a smiling Bishop Finnian raises his hand in blessing, while an angel beside him holds a Gospel book."