Wyanstown / Baile Mhiain

Described and illustrated in Cahill ([ca. 1990?]: 237-239): "The font is unusual in Ireland because of the form of the bowl which is carved to resemble the cushion or block capital seen frequently in Romanesque churches in England [...]. The font is sub-rectangular plan internally and of oval plan externally [...]. The rim is bevelled internally and externally." Cahill (ibid.) notes that this old basin, the drain hole of which is now plugged, has been mounted on a modern base and "appears to have been buffed by mechanical means prior to re-mounting". Since the church of St. Colmcille, in which it now serves as holy-water stoup, dates only to ca. 1866, Cahil (ibid.) speculates about the provenance of this font and suggests three possible origins: 1)the original medieval Roman Catholic church -now disappeared- located about one hundred yards from the new church; 2)the medieval church of Port (Teampull Phórt), located about 2 km east of St. Colmcille; or 3)the medieval church of Clonmore -now in ruins- located about 1.5 km south west of Togher, a church dedicated to St. Colmcille as well. BSI on-site visit notes: the roughly cushion-capital shaped basin but very irregular, now very altered and re-carved, has been mounted on a modern base and installed in the porch, where it serves as holy-water stoup; the upper rim has been patched. The church has a modern font in use at the east end, probably of the 1860s, when the present church was built.