1999:726 - DONAGHMOYNE: St Patrick's Churchyard, Monaghan

St Patrick's Churchyard is in the townland of Donaghmoyne, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. It is on a limestone knoll that overlooks the surrounding countryside and is c. 750m to the south-east of the motte, baileys and stone castle remains known as Mannan Castle. It contains an early modern graveyard and the remains of an early 19th-century church.

In January 1993 Donaghmoyne Community Development Committee, with the assistance of FÁS, initiated a Community Employment Scheme to clear the excess shrubs, dead trees, nettles etc. from the site under archaeological supervision. During the work, the remains of what was thought to have been a series of walls were uncovered on a raised area near the centre of the churchyard. In February 1994 Joseph Fenwick carried out an archaeological and topographical survey of these church remains.

Two trenches were excavated at the site from 29 November to 10 December 1999. Trench 1 measured 4m (north-south) x 2m. The remains of the foundations of a church were uncovered c. 0.85m beneath the present ground surface. These were composed of two linear stone-and-mortar substructures that measured 2.2m x 0.4m. These substructures ran approximately on an east-west axis. A shallow groove, interpreted as a joist for a horizontal timber, was found on top of each of these substructure remains.

Trench 2 measured 4m (north-south) x 2m and was c. 13.6m to the north-east of Cutting 1. Two features were revealed. The first was a linear arrangement of large stones uncovered immediately beneath the top sod. This stone arrangement ran on a north-south axis and was interpreted as a boundary feature. Immediately to the east of the stone arrangement the remains of a possible stone surface were revealed. Two iron nails were uncovered at the interface between this possible stone feature and the top sod.

It is intended that a second season of excavation will take place here during 2000.

Prospect House, Dunsrim, Scotshouse, Co. Monaghan