Location: Pettigo, County Donegal, Ireland
Common to most Irish towns this model was manufactured by Glenfield and Kennedy of Kilmarnock. Found to be in disrepair in 2019, local man Gary Britton was motivated to establish a ‘Go Fund Me’ page to restore this historic drinking fountain on Mill Street originally installed in the late 19th century. The goal was quickly attained by public subscriptions.
Following permission from Donegal County Council for the removal of the structure, the missing dome and finial was located by Michael Boyle, and a replacement octagonal rim knob was purchased from Ironmongery World. The fountain was coated with a rust convertor prior to spraying the finished coat.
Images captured from https://imgur.com/a/bUEdh53?fbclid=IwAR2teUZDghfnXhr92PlMJfzi1wNzJF0TvBLhIn7Pp6RvhB9uzjWMf8EwMBA
This late 19th century design was advertised as Kennedy’s patent, self-closing, anti-freezing pillar fountain. It consists of a fluted cast iron cylindrical column with moulded domed cap and small finial resembling a pineapple.
Water drawn from a well by a wind pump and delivered by gravity from a reservoir, was distributed via a lion mascaron spout and captured in a tin cup suspended on a chain from the domed top.
Glossary:
- Finial, a sculptured ornament fixed to the top of a peak, arch, gable or similar structure
- Fluted, a long rounded groove
- Mascaron, a decorative element in the form of a sculpted face or head of a human being or an animal
Memorial Drinking Fountains 