County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: St Mary's Church, Wolfe Tone Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0236 ext.
Author: Tim Coughlan, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Graveyard
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 715389m, N 734549m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.348563, -6.266921
An initial assessment of the site was carried out in May 1998 (Excavations 1998, 55; an incorrect licence number is given in that report). At that time a number of articulated and disarticulated human skeletal remains were identified in the six underground crypts associated with the church. A subsequent excavation was carried out in September 1998 to record and remove these remains. A number of test-pits excavated on the north and north-west sides of the church grounds did not reveal any archaeological deposits.
An additional assessment was carried out in December 1998 to the south of the church, in the area between the church and Wolfe Tone Park (originally the graveyard associated with the church). A number of articulated and disarticulated human remains were identified in this area. The subsequent excavation of deposits to facilitate the construction of two fire escapes from basement level in this area was monitored. This work was carried out in May–June 1999.
A total of 25 full skeletons and 7 partial skeletons were identified and removed during the excavations in these two areas at the south of St Mary's Church, with a maximum of four levels of burials identified. The results of the excavation confirmed the evidence produced in the earlier assessment-that the graveyard extended right up against the south wall of the church. All of the remains were orientated east-west, with the exception of eight burials in lead coffins within a small walled chamber, which were orientated north-south owing to the size of the chamber (see below).
The excavation also produced evidence to suggest that the construction of the stepped entrances to the four underground crypts, accessed from outside the south wall of the church (Crypts 2, 3, 4 and 6), may not be contemporary with the construction of the main structure of the church. This was seen in the entrance to Crypt 4, at the Jervis Street side of the church, where in situ human remains were identified beneath the steps. It is unlikely that there were any burials in the graveyard before the completion of the church. The presence of a section of a broken, dressed window mullion in the wall of these steps would also suggest that the steps were built during a period of restoration of the original church structure.
A small chamber, which contained eight skeletons in lead coffins, built between the entrance to Crypt 4 and the Jervis Street boundary wall, was also not contemporary with the church and was probably a later construction than the crypt entrance. The coffins in the chamber were possibly reinterred here from one of the underground crypts. The north-south alignment of the coffins may also indicate reinterment, as all of the other burials followed the traditional Christian west-east orientation. It is possible that the other three burials found in lead coffins outside the chamber were also reinterred.
A large quantity of loose, broken and disarticulated bone was recovered from all areas of excavation and at all levels. It is clear from this, and from the fragmentary and disturbed nature of many of the excavated remains, that little care or regard was given to in situ remains when graves were being opened/reopened for burials.
All of the skeletal remains were removed from the church in caskets, by Nicholls Funeral Directors, shortly after their excavation. The remains were brought to Glasnevin Crematorium, and the ashes were then returned to the Church Representative Body.
A further additional assessment was carried out before planning permission to record the nature of archaeological deposits, if any, in the area of the south-west corner of the church grounds, between the church and Wolfe Tone Park, which took place on 19 June 1999. This area was previously unavailable for testing. The assessment was based on the excavation of a single test-trench, opened by mechanical digger.
The test-trench produced no evidence of human skeletal material, indicating that the graveyard to St Mary's Church did not extend into the south-west corner of the present church grounds.
A north-south culvert identified in the south-west of the test-trench appeared to be a substantial structure, although it was only partially exposed during the assessment. Its function is unknown, and it is not clear whether it is associated with the church or the graveyard.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
