Old Font

Situated on gentle N-facing slope with the steep valley of the Aughrim River 370m to NE & E. Bride's Well (WI040-011001-) c. 110m to the NW. Cropmark of levelled ringfort (WI040-031---) in field to S. Levelled medieval church stands (WI040-011002-) in the centre of a D-shaped graveyard (WI040-011003-) containing two stones (WI040-011006-/WI040-011007-) decorated with prehistoric rock art. The D-shaped graveyard may preserve the line of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WI040-011004-). Graveyard may have been used as a children's burial ground (WI040-011005-). The 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map shows the 'Old Font' belonging to the medieval church of Tachmayl or Ballintemple as being incorporated into the enclosing bank of the graveyard on the S side to the E of the graveyard entrance. The stone was removed from this location and according to Ronan (1927, 108) the holy water font is preserved in part at Mr. Laurence Wolohan’s, Ballintemple. This font appears to be the remains of a medieval stoup (Top diam. 0.2m; D 0.12m) taken from Ballintemple church and now incorporated into the wall of the first floor of the house belonging to the Wolohan family. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 27 July 2017