Mayne

Described and illustrated in Roe (1968: [83]-87 and pl. XXXIIXXXV) as "a remarkable and beautifully proportioned octagonal vessel". The font consists of three pieces: the octagonal basin with vertical sides and chamfered underbowl that ends in a pronounced octagonal round moulding, the octagonal stem of the base, and the lower base that begins atop with a similar moulding to that of the uncerbowl, also octagonal, but then splays out to a square end at the bottom. Four sides of the basin are decorated with heads, three of them male and one female, another two sides have inscriptions and two others are blank. Roe (ibid.) gives details of the three different types of mitre worn by the three male heads: 1)a "mitra pretiosa", 2)a mitre with points front and back which Roe dates to the 12th or 13th century using manuscript illumination as reference, and, 3)the type still currently in use. Roe also reports the various inscriptions and studies their origin and possible relevance to the dating of the font, which dates to pre-Reformation times, and attributes the date of the inscription naming Thomas Dovile, vicar of Mayne ca. 1630, not to the original creation of the font but, rather, to "its restoration to sacramental use ", a custom already documented in Bond (1908). Described and illustrated in Pike (1989: 48). The entry for this church in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage [https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/15400335/saint-nicholass-church-mayne-mayne-westmeath] [accessed 14 March 2023] notes: "A late medieval/seventeenth century font is located inside this church […] The late medieval/seventeenth century font located inside of this church is of archaeological interest and was probably moved from an earlier church located to this site close to this site." The entry for the C. of I. church in the NBHS [https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/15400335/saint-nicholass-church-mayne-mayne-westmeath] [accessed 26 July 2025] notes: "A late medieval/seventeenth century font is located inside this church."

A 3-D model of this font by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland may be seen in Sketchfab [https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/mayne-church-font-wm003-112-c6cfab4ca6a14a4cbf7912fb95413c0c] [accessed 26 July 2025]; its caption reads: "The octagonal-shaped baptismal font (WM003-083001-) has been moved from St. Nicholas C. of I. church (WM003-083----) in Mayne, to St. Mary’s R. C. Church in Fearmore, Co. Westmeath. The font is decorated with 3 mitred ecclesiastics with the fourth being that of a woman. On a panel is an inscription ‘ORATE P ME / THOMA / DOVILE / VICARIO DE / MAYNE / R F S 1630’ ‘Pray for me, Thomas Dovile, Vicar of Mayne’. The shaft is decorated with a panel of vine-leaf motif, representing the blood of Christ [...] For more information, visit: https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/?SMRS=WM003-112----"