Fethard-on-Sea / Fiodh Ard

The Rev. J.F.M. Ffrench, a fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, wrote in his report to the Society (1896: 342) after a visit to Dunbrody Abbey in April 1896: "There is a most interesting ancient font in the parish church of Fethard which has been known for centuries as the font of Dunbrody Abbey. I would suggest that it was probably taken from the little church at Dunbrody [this little church, he adds elsewhere in the report, "was situated about fifty yards south-west of the abbey"], where it formerly rested under the shadow of the abbey; for except in exceptional cases, the monks were not in the habit of administering the sacrament of Baptism". Described and illustrated in Pike (1989): a variation of the cushion-capital font, here with three "scallops" rather than the more common single one of this type of font; square bowl raised on a conical pedestal; the triple scallop is outlined with a band of chevron ornament; a large fleur-de-lis in relief occupies the front face of the bowl; diagonally intersecting swords and fleur-de-lis [cf. Index entry for the font at Inistiogue No. 2 for a related motif]. Pike (ibid.) refers to the present [i.e., ca. 1989] Rector, Archdeacon Roundtree, who "says that this font may have come from Tintern Abbey, a Cistercian house four miles from Fethard-on-Sea, founded by William the Marshall in 1200, a daughter house of Tintern Major in Monmouthshire" [Wales], although, "many local people attribute the font to Dunbrody Abbey, another Cistercian foundation in the area". Noted and illlustrated in the Scoil Mhuire website [http://homepage.eircom.net/~horeswoodns/dunbrody_abbey.htm] [accessed 31 March 2010]: "The next important Abbot was Alexander Devereux. He knew that the protestant King Henry 8th was going to suppress or destroy Dunbrody Abbey. He gave the lands to his brother. He then changed his religion and became the first protestant Bishop of Ferns and went to live in Fethard-on-Sea closeby. Alexander brought with him the baptismal font from the Abbey and this font is still in use today in St.Mogue's Church. St.Mogue is another name for St. Aidan the patron saint of Wexford. He was the first catholic Bishop of Ferns. Alexander is buried in St.Mogues Church." Noted and illustrated in the CRSBI (2008): "Although the font is said to have come from Dunbrody or Tintern, there appears to be no evidence for this. It also seems unlikely, as fonts were not generally required in Cistercian churches. Stalley (1987, 276) suggests a date of c.1200 for the font, and considers the Dunbrody provenance unlikely, unless it was made for the capella ante portas. The font is very similar to that at Carrick-on-Bannow, and is evidently a product of the same workshop. "