Kells No. 3 / Ceannaus Mór

Described and illustrated in Roe (1968: 121-122 and pl. II): "this very remarkable vessel was removed from the ruins of the church of Kilshine and erected here [i.e.: Kells' St Columba's] outside the church". The object is monolithic, coarsely rendered and roughly cylindrical; three rectangular indentations have been made at the bottom end resulting in three "legs" on which the object rests. The basin has a drain hole, and there are holes in the upper rim consistent with the preesence of cover hardware. Roe (ibid.) comments further: "In appearance this vessel is reminiscent of a wooden original, a tub or vat cut whole from a tree bole. I do not know of anything comparable, whether of liturgical or domestic use, in Irish or English work", and mentions the Welsh font at Old Radnor [cf. Index entry] as a baptismal font of possible reference. [NB: BSI wrote to church contact advising to have the font moved indoors for protection].