Coolbanagher / Cooolbenger / Cuil Beannchair

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Results: 11 records

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angel - showing wings - 3

Scene Description: on alternate sides of the basin

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

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animal - bird - pelican - plucking its breast

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

cleric - bishop - wearing mitre

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

design element - motifs - floral and/or foliage

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

design element - motifs - rope moulding

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

symbol - fruit - grapes or pine cone

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of basin - interior

Scene Description: showing the central drain hole and an odd large notch cut into the upper im

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of font

Image Source: digital image of a drawing in Pike (1989: 41)

Copyright Instructions: Permission received from the author (letter of 9 February 2004)

view of font

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of font

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of font

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph by Laois Archaeology [[A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]

Copyright Instructions: No known copyright restriction / Fair Dealing

INFORMATION

FontID: 00885COO

Church/Chapel: Church of St. John the Evangelist (C. of I.) / Eaglais Chuil Beannchair

Church Patron Saints: St. John the Evangelist

Church Location: Morret Townland, Coolbanagher, County Laois, Ireland

Country Name: Republic of Ireland

Location: Laois, Leinster

Directions to Site: Located off (E) road R419, 3-4 km SW of Emo, off (W) highway M7, 10 km NE of Portlaoise, about 80 km WSW of Dublin

Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Kildare

Historical Region: Barony of Portnahinch / Queen;s County

Font Location in Church: Reported ca. 1989 in use, inside the church; near the W door

Century and Period: 15th century, Late Gothic

Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Dr. Rachel Moss, and to Trinity College, Dublin, for the copy of Ms. Pike's work, and to Ms. Joan Pike for her kind permission to reproduce her original drawings]. We are also grateful to Pol Herman for his help in documenting this font

Church Notes: medieval church said to habe neen burned down in 1779; now in ruins; present church is 18thC -- photo essay of the old church by Ed Mooney [https://edmooneyphoto.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/a-welcome-suprise-at-coolbanagher/], and in Ireland in ruins [http://irelandinruins.blogspot.com/2017/07/coolbanagher-church-co-laois.html] [both accessed 10 April 2022]

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

The Ecclesiologist (vol. XXVIII, 1867: 248) notes the "font near the west door". Roe (1947) reports that the font had been in Lord Portarlington’s as a garden ornament at Emo Court until it was acquired ca 1930 by Revered Dudley Fletcher, then rector of Coolbanagher. Described and illustrated in Pike (1989): "Highly decorated octagonal Medieval font, which is in use. This font is said to have been moved from the Manorial Church, which stood in the demesne of Emo Court [cf. supra]. The font is limestone, with central drain. The bowl is cylindrically internally. The pedestal is conical base and there is no plinth. The decoration displays an angel in relief on three alternate faces; a bishop wearing a mitre on the fourth face. Flowers occupy two faces and grapes are on the right of the bishop. A pelican in piety plucking her breast for her baby chicks is on the eighth face of the font. The shallow chamfer, five inches, is decorated with flowing Fleur-de-lis." The font is described and illustrated in A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois [A Late Medieval Baptismal Font at Coolbanagher, Co. Laois – Laois Archaeology.pdf] [accesed 10 April 2022]: "According to the 1839 OS Map of the Emo Park Demesne, a font is located north a site called Killeenatogher Church (LA009-005—-) [...] This ornate piece consists of an octagonal shaped basin supported by a pedestal, which was added as a support and functionality in the 1930’s. Both basin and pedestal are hewn from limestone, the predominant bedrock of the County. Each of the eight basin panels are elaborately decorated in relief carvings. [...] Although the font is exteriorly faced with octagonal panels, the interior is rounded and finely punch-dressed which indicates a Late Medieval date. A plug hole is located at the bottom of this basin". This source then proceeds with a detailed description of the panel carvings, summarised here: "Panel 1 [...] a disgorging head capped with what seems to be a mitre or bishop’s hat. From the mouth of this man’s head we see two tree-like branches emanating in opposite directions which span the entire central circumference of the basin [...] The “Green Man” at Coolbanagher is quiet unique as it incorporates a mitre, bridging a Pagan-Christian divide or perhaps “capping” a Pagan symbol with that of a Christian crown! [...] Panel 2. This has intricate foliage carvings both above and below the vine branches, likely vine leaves. Panel 3. We see one of three angels carved in relief. These have long pleated robes and are holding an oval object in both hands at the waistline. Large ribbed wings [...] Panel 4. This panel depicts another Late Medieval church symbol in that of “the Pelican in her piety”. [...] Panel 5. The second of our angels. Panel 6. Again similar designs of vine foliage as seen in panel 2. Panel 7. The third angel as outlined in panel 3 & 5. Panel 8. The third and final depiction of the vine foliage".

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 53.088356, -7.218945

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 53° 3′ 59″ N, 7° 15′ 17″ W

UTM: 29U 624531 5906783

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, limestone

Number of Pieces: two

Font Shape: octagonal (mounted) -- chalice-shaped

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal

Drainage Notes: no lining

Height of Basin Side: 33.65 cm*

Basin Total Height: 46.35 cm*

Height of Base: 34.93 cm*

Font Height (less Plinth): 81.28 cm*

Trapezoidal Basin: 74.93 cm* (max. width)

Notes on Measurements: * Pike (1989: 41)

REFERENCES

Pike, Joan H.K., "Medieval Fonts of Ireland", [Supplied courtesy of The Dept. of the History of Art, Trinity College, Dublin], [Ireland]: [Privately printed], 1989

Roe, Helen M., "Two Baptismal Fonts in County Laoighis", LXXVII, part I, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1947, pp. 81-83.