County: Dublin Site name: St. Mary's National School (disused), Moneyatta Commons, Saggart
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU021-034 Licence number: 21E0139
Author: Judith Carroll, Judith Carroll and Company
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 703766m, N 726510m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.278748, -6.444047
Trial testing was carried out between 20/06/22 and 23/06/22 on the site of the now disused St Mary’s National School, a listed building (NIAH reg. no. 11213036). The site is in Zone of Archaeological Potential of the town of Saggart (DU021-034. The former school building was intact along with a schoolyard shelter, tarmac and concreted yards and walls with styles and gateways. The situation of the site was of particular significance as background research indicated that the main south gate along the medieval defences at Moneyatta Commons/Saggart may have been located here (see map).
Trial testing was recommended by the National Monuments Service (NMS) prior to the development. Five trial trenches were dug. These were set out on the northern half of the site as the south-east part was not to be impacted apart from resurfacing works.
Though the site is in an area of archaeological potential and archaeological sites have been found nearby, no finds or features of archaeological significance came to light during trial testing. There were no stratified features and the site was remarkably devoid also of finds of any sort. Pottery was found in Trench 5 only and appears to be 18th-19th century in date.
Ballybrack Road, Glencullen, Dublin 18
