County: Laois Site name: COOLBANAGHER
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 8:14 Licence number: 93E0142
Author: Dominic Delany
Site type: Church and Graveyard
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 651339m, N 703233m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.077241, -7.233790
Archaeological supervision of an ongoing conservation project at Coolbanagher church and graveyard commenced in October 1993. The project was necessitated by extensive site clearance works which had left the church ruins in a very unstable condition. The work is being carried out by FÁS employees on a youth training programme.
The first phase of the project involves a full instrument and photographic survey of the site, and the excavation and sorting of buried rubble, particularly within the church ruins. Limited excavation is also being undertaken to uncover buried sections of church walling. During the course of these works a considerable amount of archaeological material has come to light. The finds include architectural fragments from the church buildings, quern stone fragments, iron slag, fragmented and scattered human skeletal remains and a couple of sherds of medieval and post-medieval pottery. It is hoped that the project will be completed in 1994.
20-21 Main St., Portlaoise, Co. Laois
