2021:717 - GLASNEVIN: St. Mobhi's Church, Dublin

Remedial works at the east boundary works at St Mobhi’s Church, Glasnevin, Dublin, were monitored in 2021. A licence was granted initially (J. Carroll) in September 2020 (Licence 20E0569) for works on the north wall. However, this work was not carried out, as ESB cables were found in the area. Meanwhile, it was decided by the church committee to progress with works on the east boundary wall which had collapsed in June 2019. An update to the licence was granted in 2021.

The east wall of the site joins St Mobhi’s Church to the land of Bon Secours Hospital. A 15m stretch in length of this wall collapsed and was to be rebuilt. The foundations of the wall were in situ at ground level. Prior to rebuilding, an assessment and examination of the remains of the wall above ground level was proposed. There was some delay due to Covid restrictions and works did not commence till May 2021.

Works were monitored between 04 May 2021 and 11 June 2021. Vegetation was removed by hand along the east side and top of the wall foundations above ground level. The wall foundations at the top and the east side of the site were exposed by hand and three pits were dug at the base of the walls. The mortared stone wall in all three pits did not show any evidence of building phases and appears to represent a single wall-building event.

The 2019 collapse caused a slope from the graveyard to the top of the exposed wall. To the east of the collapsed wall, there was a sloped decline in the ground level to approximately 800mm below the top of the exposed wall. It was proposed to build the 15m stretch of wall directly on the foundations of the existing wall rather than remove them.