Ballyneaning / Baile Uí Bhaoithín / Ballywiheen
Image copyright © Joan Pike, 1989
Permission received (letter of 9/2/2004)
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Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Joan Pike, 1989
Image Source: Pike (1989: 8)
Copyright Instructions: Permission received (letter of 9/2/2004)
view of font
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: Macalister (1898: ill. on p. 18)
Copyright Instructions: PD
INFORMATION
Font ID: 09259BAL
Object Type: Baptismal Font1?
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th - 16th century, Medieval
Cognate Fonts: Pike (1989: 8) gives also Kilmakeader (Co. Kerry) and Fore Co. Westmeath) as other examples of "bullaun" fonts
Church / Chapel Name: Ballywiheen Church [in ruins]
Font Location in Church: Reported seen on the sill of the E window on 9 July 1896
Church Address: Ballywiheen Early Christian site, Carhoo, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Site Location: Kerry, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Located on the local road that links the loop of the R-559, just S of Smerwick Harbour/Bay, in the Dingle peninsula, 1 km S of Ballyferriter, about 60 km WSW of Tralee
Additional Comments: abandoned font: reported unused in the ruins of the old church in 1896
Font Notes:
Click to view
Described and illustrated in Macalister (1898: 17-18) [the paper was read to the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland on 12 January 1897, and Macalister visited the site on 9 July 1896]: "Lying on the sill of the east window inside are two stone objects worthy of notice. One of these resembles a nether quern stone, much injured; it is 13 inches in diameter. The other is a circular bowl, 10 inches deep and 14 inches in external diameter; the bottom is rounded, and in the centre is drilled a hole 2 inches in diameter. The two fit together to form a font, or stoup, as represented in the figure [cf. Image Area]. A rough sketch of it is given in Brash's 'Ecclesiastical Architecture', which, however, contains no notice of the church." [NB: although the measurements suggest a holy-water stoup the presence of drain in both basin and base would indicate its use as baptismal font, whatever its origin]. Described and illustrated in Pike (1989: 8) as "a rudely fashioned circular stone vessel standing on a saucer shaped plinth; in the bottom of the bowl is an orif[i]ce for letting off the water".
Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful 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.
COORDINATES
UTM: 29U 403752 5779633
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 52.158792, -10.40702
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 52° 9′ 31.65″ N, 10° 24′ 25.27″ W
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone
Number of Pieces: two
Font Shape: hemispheric, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Drainage System: centre hole in basin
Drainage Notes: diameter of the hole: 2 inches
Diameter (includes rim): 35 cm [approx.]
Basin Depth: 25 cm* [approx.]
Square Base Dimensions: external diameter: 32.5 cm [approx.]
Notes on Measurements: Macalister (1898: 17) *["10 inches deep"]
REFERENCES
- Brash, R.R., Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland, [s.l.]: [s.n.], [s.d.], [??]
- Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart, "Ballywiheen Church, Ballyneanig, Co. Kerry", 28, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1898, pp. 15-20; p. 17-18
- 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, p. 8