2013:431 - Blackfriary, Trim, Meath

This interim report details the second, third and fourth seasons of excavation at Black Friary, Blackfriary townland in Trim Co, Meath which took place in 2011‐2013. The excavations at Black Friary, a Dominican Friary founded in 1263, which is in the ownership of the County Council and is a monument protected by Preservation Order (No. 4 of 1972) under the National Monuments Acts, were carried out under ministerial consent issued to Trim Town Council.

Two surveys were carried out prior to any excavations taking place. A geophysical survey of the site was undertaken by Ian Elliott of IGAS Ltd over the entire site (licence R223). The results of this work were somewhat hampered by the amount of metalliferous debris scattered over the site as a result of periodic episodes of illegal dumping. A topographical survey was carried out by Niall Lynch for IAFS Ltd which covered approximately 60% of the area occupied by the buildings of the friary. This showed quite clearly that the remains of the friary buildings can be discerned sub‐surface and informed the placement of the cuttings. In 2013 the topographical survey was extended by Ian Elliott to cover the entirety of the site which is in local authority ownership. This includes the remainder of the area presumed to be within the original friary precinct, now amounting to almost three acres (1.12ha) and the area to the north and east of this which may have been cultivated to provide food for the community.

Two cuttings were opened during the first season in 2010. Both centred on visible pieces of collapsed masonry and were within what is believed to be the church. The remains of in situ walls were uncovered, believed to form part of a belfry tower adjoining the church on its north side. In 2011 Cutting 3 was opened to the west of Cutting 1, and north of Cutting 2. The south wall of the cloister, with part of the cloister garth to the north and its ambulatory to the south, together with the remains of the north wall of the church and part of the nave, were exposed. Two further cuttings (4 and 5), were opened to follow the cloister wall and exposed a further part of the south wall and the south-west corner of the cloister with its associated buttress.

In 2012 work continued in Cutting 3, focusing particularly on the excavation of human remains within the nave and cloister garth and ambulatory. Two more cuttings, 6 and 7, were opened to uncover the north-east and north-west corners of the cloister respectively.

In 2013 a further three cuttings, 8, 9 and 10, were opened, and Cuttings 2, 5 and 7 were extended. The south wall of the church was uncovered in Cuttings 2 and 10; the inner corner of the west and north ranges was located in Cutting 7 and the west wall of the cloister was exposed in Cuttings 5ext and 8. Cutting 9 contained what has been interpreted as the base of a column, and this may be part of an arcade separating the nave from a south aisle, a feature which may have been a later addition. Also in Cutting 9 a robbed-out trench was excavated. This may have been a foundation trench for the west wall of the church, but if so, it poses some interpretative difficulties.

CRDS Ltd, Unit 4A Dundrum Business Park, Dublin 14.