- Glasnevin, St Mobhi Lane, Dublin, Dublin

In June 1956 human remains were discovered during levelling and clearing operations at St Mobhi Lane, Glasnevin.⁷⁹ The site being cleared was a piece of waste ground about half an acre in extent. Approximately 0.9m of soil had been removed from the ground before the bone was noticed. The site was investigated by Breandán Ó Ríordáin. The adjacent site of the Bon Secours Hospital had also been investigated by Dr Lucas, when bones were discovered during its construction.⁸⁰ The present site was a short distance north-west of St Mobhi’s Church. A number of ‘fairly complete’ skeletons were visible and the crushed remains of others were scattered about on the surface. Some minor excavation was carried out in the region but no grave-goods or evidence of grave structure was found. The skeletons were not all aligned in the same direction; one was lying north/south, while others lay north-west/south-east. The skull of one of the skeletons was missing, but this was thought by Ó Ríordáin to have been disturbed by the bulldozer. The burials appear to have formed part of the graveyard attached to St Mobhi’s Church, and it was decided to have them reinterred.

A few days after Ó Ríordáin’s investigation, a report was received that an iron knife had been discovered on the site where the skeletons (1956:187) had been unearthed. It is not known, however, whether this was found in association with a burial, as it was uprooted by the bulldozer and only subsequently retrieved.

79. Parish of Glasnevin, barony of Coolock. SMR DU018-005006—. The SMR lists a cemetery at St Móibhí’s Bóithrín. SMR DU018-00505-. IGR 31536 23770.
80. The site was also visited by Raghnall Ó Floinn in March 1987 when it was being excavated and redeveloped. No human remains were found at this time.