2023:492 - Creevaghbaun, Galway

The repair of a number of collapsed sections of the boundary wall of Creevaghbaun graveyard (RMP No. GA044-047003) in County Galway was monitored between 18 and 27 July 2023. The works were carried out under Ministerial Consent No. C001166.

The graveyard is located c. 5km south-east of Tuam in County Galway. Creevaghbaun church (RMP No. GA044-047002) , which is located at the east end of the graveyard, stands on the site of a Carmelite monastery founded in the 14th century. An ecclesiastical enclosure (RMP No. GA044-047001) is visible as a cropmark in an aerial photograph from 1970, in the field to the south of the graveyard.

The boundary wall which enclosed the graveyard appeared to be a modern wall, which had been the subject of repair works in the last 20-30 years. The wall was constructed of mortared rubble with a cement cap in places. Eight sections of the boundary wall were collapsed, partially collapsed, or in danger of collapse. Three of these sections were located along the northern boundary wall and five along the southern boundary wall. They measured 5m, 4m, 7.5m, 8m, 1.5m, 5m, 2.5m and 2.4m long respectively; 0.45-0.6m thick and 0.6-1.4m high. Some mortar and cement were visible in the core of the wall in places along these sections.

A professional stone mason carried out the repairs using lime mortar and no ground levels were reduced. No artefacts, cut or dressed stone, or architectural fragments, were in evidence during the repair works.