Aughrim / Aughrim nr. Ballinasloe / Eachroim

A "Baptismal font from Aughrim" is described and illustrated by Christy Cunniffe: "This dimenutive baptismal font is preserved in the Clonfert Diocesan Museum in Loughrea. It was originally preserved in the parochial house in Aughrim near Ballinasloe and was presented to the museum by Rev. P.K. Egan. It is described as a ‘small rectangular receptacle or font in limestone, bearing on the front a carving in relief of an archer shooting a deer. … Probably salvaged from the ruins of the priory of St. Catherine nearby’ (Egan 1956-57). It comprises of a rectangular vessel with a rebate around the rim for a lid and a small drain hole in the centre. It is hard to date but appears high medieval possibly late 13th century. Ref: Egan, P. K. 1956-57 ‘Clonfert Museum and its Collections’. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. No 37. pp 33-76" [https://field-monuments.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/archaeology/churches/aughrim-font-2] [accessed 2 October 2022]. The above text, spelling mistake and all, appears in the Galway County Heritage Office [https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/topics/galway3d-project/architectural-heritage-medieval/baptisimal-font-aughrim] [accessed 2 October 2022]; this site contains a 3D model wgich shows the object as rectangular inside and out; three of the sides are blank; the third shows a carving of a hunting scene; the inside well is rectangular and totally plain; there appears to be no drain hole in it; there is no cover present but the upper rim sides are grooved to accommodate a cover. [NB: the object was probably not a font originally but it may have been used as one].