Font (present location) in Killinure (upperwoods By.),mountainfarm — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Killinure is a mountain farm where a rough limestone font still sits beyond the chapel, having been carried from the lost churchyard to Burke's Cross so people could dip their hands before open-air Mass during the Penal times. The basin is little more than a palm's span across and shallow enough to hold only a child's cup of water, yet it crossed fields under risk to keep that small act of cleaning alive. It is not a grand monument but a travelling vessel, moved because worship would not stop, and it remains where the carrying ended.

Not marked on the 1841 and 1909 editions of the OS 6-inch maps. The font (LA011-023004-) was originally located in Killinure church (LA011-023), it was moved during Penal times to 'Burke's Cross' where Mass was said in the open (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 152). A limestone subcircular font (dims NW-SE c. 0.65m, NE-SW c. 0.75m, D c. 0.23m) with central drain-hole. According to Carrigan 'the holy water font that once belonged to it [Killanure Church] is still to be seen at "Burke's Cross", a little beyond Killanure Chapel, in the direction of Mountrath. This font is of freestone, and like thos of Srahane and Killeen is rough and unhewn, with a large basin 14 in. in diamtere and 9 in. deep. During the Penal times, Mass used to be said in the open air, a few perches from Burke's Cross, and the font was brought there from Killanure churchyard, wherever that was, to be used by the people for its original purpose' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 152). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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