2021:597 - St Mogue's/Gubalaun Abbey, Gubalaun, Leitrim

Archaeological monitoring of conservation works at Gubalaun Abbey/Church, LE005-003001- and Graveyard, LE005-003002- was undertaken. The works were funded by the National Monuments Service Community Monument Fund 2021 and entailed conservation works to the historic fabric of the medieval church of Gubalaun Abbey (also known as St Mogue's), which took place between October and December 2021.
Monitoring was undertaking of the dismantling of the east wall below the lancet window which was reduced to ground level and rebuilt to secure the unstable fabric of the masonry in the window reveal. The reinstatement of the east wall, including the detailed roof box feature at the apex of the gable wall, was undertaken under archaeological supervision and guidance.
The most extensive work was undertaken to the east gable lancet window during this phase of conservation work. The window comprises a two-light lancet window of dressed sandstone in an embrasure that was modified and damaged by a long period of burials near the masonry remains, as well as wall-mounted grave memorials directly on to the wall below the lancet window. The disturbance was further compounded by extensive root damage from ivy growth which had resulted in the loosening of the window reveal stonework. The stonework bulged outwards into the interior of the church.
The aim of the conservation works in this area was to reinstate lost cut stone to the central mullion and part of the north embrasure to the east window, to repoint the cut stone surround to the east window, inside and outside, and to remove timber supports and repair the rubble stone arch ring to the relieving arch over the east window.
To preserve the window, it was necessary to dismantle the masonry below the window down to ground level and to rebuild it. It was deemed necessary to preform geotechnical site investigation works to establish the type of substrate present on which the church is built which will inform future measures to secure the church, particularly the east gable, from further deterioration. Three engineering auger piles were mechanically inserted using a small drilling rig at three locations, two outside the north wall and one in the new graveyard extension to the east. These site investigation works established that stable substrate was several metres below ground.
The engineering design for securing the east gable was amended to reflect these findings and the bulge at the base of the window was reduced, under archaeological supervision, to foundation level, preserving the stonework to enable correct reinstatement of original building fabric. A reinforced concrete foundation was poured and HeliBar reinforcing used as the rubble course stonework was rebuilt. HeliBar is a helical stainless steel reinforcing bar, with substantial tensile properties, used for strengthening and stabilising masonry in both new build and remedial situations. All works were completed within the wall reveal on the original church foundation wall and no excavation work was undertaken outside the footprint of the east wall, therefore no burials or other archaeological material were disturbed.
The missing cut stone from the two-light lancet window was replaced; almost the entire central mullion was absent and to support the window arch it was necessary to rebuild the central mullion. The missing pieces were reproduced using locally sourced sandstone and modelled on the same design as the in-situ original cut stone pieces from the medieval church. The relieving arch above the east lancet window was also consolidated and repaired using the same rubble coursing sandstone.
Three engineering auger piles were mechanically inserted using a small drilling rig at three locations outside the north wall and in the new graveyard extension to the east. These site investigation works were undertaken to establish the type of substrate present on which the church is built and will inform future measures to secure the church from further deterioration.
No subsurface archaeological remains were disturbed, and the historic character and integrity of the medieval church was maintained. The unstable east gable wall including the apex stone box feature and the two-light lancet window have been successfully consolidated and preserved during this phase of the conservation works.

Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo