Piscina, Lemanaghan Church Ruins (OF014-004003-)

15th century piscina (sacrarium) built into the southern wall at the east end of the church ruins (OF015-004003-) at Lemanaghan, County Offaly. Located beside the altar as it was the place where the priest (sacerdos) would wash his hands before saying mass and was used to rinse the chalice. The word piscina from the Latin piscine meaning fish-pond, or reservoir and is used to a describe a stone basin or sink with a drain-hole located near the altar of a church for the disposing of water used in the rituals of the Mass. The term Fenestella was used to describe the opening containing the piscina. The circular shaped bowl in which the metal cross stands is the drain hole, water down into the ground through a channel in the wall of the medieval church. The washing of the priest's hands and the items used in the ritual of mass was an essential part of the religious rite known as ablutions. For more information on Lemanaghan church, visit: https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/?SMRS=OF015-004003-