What is recorded here

You can still see the nine Gothic flutes cut into each side of the square limestone font in Callan South. They shine like ribbed columns under a child's hand, and that is why the font still feels alive. It stands in the chancel of St Mary's, not hidden behind glass, but set where baptism water would have moved through the church for centuries. The small circular basin and central drain hole make the whole thing practical as well as beautiful. A mother may have held a baby above that water, or a priest may have spoken names into the quiet stone. Either way, the font remembers being used.

In the SW corner of the chancel of St Mary's medieval parish church (KK026-010012-), Callan. A square limestone font (total H including supports and pedestal 1m; font H 0.37m; Wth 0.84m) with a circular basin and central drain hole. There are nine Gothic flutes on each side and one bevelling at each angle (Pike 1989, 576-7). The font rests on a wide central column, with four slender columns under each angle, all on a square pedestal with chamfered angles. This font is one of a series of similarly decorated fonts, described by Pike as the Ossory Fonts (ibid. 572-82). According to Pike the fonts decorated with rounded flutes are the earliest examples, probably dating from the 12th century, while those decorated with pointed (Gothic) flutes, such as that at Callan, are about a century later in date (ibid. 572-3). See attached photograph: KK026-010013-_01 From E (Urban Archaeological Survey, October 1992) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 29 June 2022

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.