2024:277 - Dr. Warnock's Memorial, Donegal Abbey, Donegal Town, Donegal

Damage has occurred to a portion of retention boundary walling surrounding a dedicated memorial to Dr H. T. Warnock within the graveyard in the Old Abbey in Donegal town. The walling has significantly detached from the adjacent earth bank and the shift in masonry coursing has also caused cracking at the upper (later) walling portions of the surround. Soils have sunk at the ground surface of the memorial site itself and due to restricted drainage washout has occurred behind the wall and pushed it out as a result. The earth that is retained by the wall is of significant height and weight. Urgent repair works were required for pedestrian safety purpose, to safeguard the archaeological integrity of the Abbey site as well as reinstate the presentation of the graveyard for the visiting public. Archaeological monitoring of the ground works was undertaken under Ministerial Consent.

The masonry walling repair and retention required the installation of rebar grid and reduction of the overgrown surface surrounding the memorial to allow for concrete works.  The sod of the grassed area surrounding the memorial was removed by hand under archaeological supervision and the ground was reduced approximately 0.2m. The excavated portion of the topsoil consisted of a dark-brown loamy soil containing a large amount of modern refuse inclusions, broken bottles, plastic fragments and plastic cups. At a depth between 0.15 – 0.25m within the surface stratum, the soil was slightly more compacted and contained moderate inclusions of small angular stones. The contractor considered this level sufficient to contain the retention works.

No archaeological features or artifacts of archaeological consequence were identified during the investigations.

Burnside, St Oran's Rd, Buncrana, County Donegal