County: Leitrim Site name: MANORHAMILTON: Our Lady’s Hospital
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0720 ext.
Author: Tom Rogers, Moore Ltd.
Site type: Workhouse and Graveyard
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 589116m, N 839450m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.303692, -8.167213
Excavation of seven inhumations was carried out in September 2002 in the former cemetery of Manorhamilton Union workhouse. Before this, 70 skeletons in two areas had been excavated by Declan Moore after coffins were uncovered during ground reduction for the new North-Western Health Board Headquarters (Excavations 2001, No. 737, 01E0720).
In 2002 it was found that a further 3m strip was required to the north of the north-western area for the construction of an access road. Modern overburden was removed from this strip by machine, revealing eight grave-cuts in the natural boulder clay. Seven of these were excavated, as it was found that the eighth could be preserved in situ by moving the kerb.
The seven skeletons were in varying states of preservation within well-preserved, simple, pine coffins. All were oriented east–west with heads to the west. One was found with a metal crucifix and twenty blue glass rosary beads at the neck. Straw lining was found in three of the coffins. There is little evidence to date the inhumations. The workhouse opened in 1842, and burial in this ground began five years later. The workhouse became a county home in the early years of the 20th century, and it is thought that burial ceased in this ground at that time.
Osteological analysis of the skeletons is being carried out.
Unit 6, Riveroaks, Claregalway, Co. Galway
