Font in Fionntrá

Ventry Church/Teampall Fionntrá or Teampall Chaitlíona: The parish church of Ventry (KE052-119001-) is included in the Papal Taxation list (1302-1307) for the diocese of Ardfert (Cal Docs Ire, V, 297). In 1398 the church was the subject of a dispute with 'Patrick Treawnt', a priest of the diocese, unlawfully detaining it (Cal Pap Reg, 5, 106). It appears to have continued in use however throughout the medieval period and in 1633 it was under the patronage of Maurice Trant (TCD Ms 2158, 36). The church was in ruins by 1756 (Smith, 71). An octagonal stone font, .57m in diameter x .45m in height, and an octagonal pedestal, .3m in height, discovered in the graveyard c. 1917 are now in use in the modern parish church (O'Sullivan 1931, 545). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 997. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 9 August 2013

The font in Fionntrá is associated with Ventry Church (Teampall Fionntrá or Teampall Chaitlíona), which is recorded in the Papal Taxation list (1302–1307) and dates to at least the late 13th century; its style reflects early medieval Christian traditions and it holds significance as part of the parish church serving the local community in the diocese of Ardfert.