2012:597 - St Mary’s graveyard, Dungarvan, Waterford

St Mary’s church and graveyard are located on a promontory on the west side of Dungarvan harbour, overlooking the sea to the south. The site lies immediately south of the historic walled town of Dungarvan. The principal structure in the graveyard today is an early 19th-century Church of Ireland church, and the west gable end of an earlier church standing nearby is of medieval appearance.
Remedial engineering works were required to the southern boundary wall of the graveyard. Ground level inside the graveyard is approximately 2.5m higher than the footpath outside, causing the boundary wall to bulge and crack so that either reconstruction or reinforcement was required. It was decided to insert concrete piles in the ground outside the wall and build a new concrete revetting wall on the piles to retain the existing wall in place. Testing was carried out in advance of the works and the ground works were monitored.
Cartographic evidence showed that the wall had been built in the mid-20th century on what had until then been foreshore, and that the area outside the wall had been artificially raised and a new road and footpaths laid down.
A test trench was investigated in the area where the works were to take place, and further soil removal was monitored. The fill was a mix of clay, earth and stone. Sherds of modern pottery and tile were found. The findings were consistent with the cartographic evidence that the area had been infilled in modern times. Nothing of archaeological significance was found.

Ballynanelagh, Rathcormac, Co. Cork.