County: Clare Site name: ABBEY STREET (CLONROAD BEG), ENNIS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CL033-082001 Licence number: E4411 and C395
Author: Graham Hull
Site type: Medieval, post-medieval and modern human burials and archaeological features
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 533883m, N 677680m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.845994, -8.981507
The Office of Public Works with the National Monuments Service of the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht undertook works at the friary church, Abbey Street, Ennis. The archaeological works at the friary were all within, or very near to, the nave of the friary church. These works were a response to proposals to install glazing panels at the belfry and transept, the construction of a display stand for medieval stone carvings and the upgrading of an ESB cabinet and areas where channels for electricity cabling were laid. In addition, the ground surface at the extreme western end of the nave was reduced by 0.15m and the rest of the nave was reduced by 75mm.
Articulated and disarticulated human remains (some in lead coffins) dating from the medieval to the modern period were discovered. Evidence for two modern or post-medieval crypts and details of the ground-plan of the church in the 18th and 19th centuries were found. The articulated remains have been preserved in situ. The disarticulated human bone will be osteologically examined.
TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare
