Kells No. 3 / Ceannaus Mór

Image copyright © Roe, 1968

PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

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Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Roe, 1968

Image Source: Roe (1968: pl. II)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

INFORMATION

FontID: 00902KEL
Church/Chapel: Parish Church of St. Columba (C. of I.) [originally from the ruined church at Kilshine]
Church Patron Saints: St. Columba [aka Colmcille, Colomban, Columcille]
Country Name: Republic of Ireland
Location: Meath / An Mhí, Leinster
Directions to Site: Kells is 40 miles north-west of Dublin, up the N3, 10 miles from Navan.
Font Location in Church: Outside this church since 1962
Century and Period: , Medieval
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.

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 53.72728, -6.87998
Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 53° 43′ 38″ N, 6° 52′ 37″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, unknown
Number of Pieces: one
Font Shape: tub-shaped
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Drainage Notes: diameter of drain: 10 cm (a/p Roe)
Rim Thickness: 10 cm
Diameter (inside rim): 43.2 cm
Diameter (includes rim): 63.5 cm
Basin Depth: 25.5 cm
Font Height (less Plinth): 61 cm
Notes on Measurements: Roe (1968: 122)

LID INFORMATION

Notes: holes in the upper rim are probably from an old cover

REFERENCES

Roe, Helen M., Medieval Fonts of Meath, Longford, Ireland: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 1968