2024:149 - Gubalaun, Leitrim

The works for this phase (Phase 3) focused on conservation of the north wall of St Mogue’s Church (RMP LE005-003001- and Graveyard RMP LE005-003002-) Rossinver Co. Leitrim. During the previous phases the rest of the church had been successfully conserved, with a limited amount of pointing on the north on the interior and exterior elevations. The works in Phase 2 included the conservation of a wall niche or cupboard in the north-east corner of the church. The proposed works for 2023 were to involve the stabilization of the north wall, repointing the historic masonry, the removal of the flaunching on the top of the wall and the conservation of recessed arch feature on the interior of the church.

The breaking out of the concrete at the base of the recessed arch and digging along the base of the north wall in 2022, allowed for the foundations to be assessed by the conservation architect and structural engineer. It was evident that the north wall had moved inwards off its original foundations. Major structural repairs were required to stabilise the wall and the remains of the recessed arch. To stabilise the north wall, three steel supports were proposed to be inserted along the north face of the north wall. The steel supports were to be fixed to a concrete foundation pad to be fixed c. 300mm below ground level to the north of the structure. The 3 steel supports were to be encased in rubble stone to appear like buttresses along the north face of the north wall and cross wall ties were to be fitted to the south face of the north wall and tie bars are to be inserted through mortar joints to secure north wall.

The conservation works to the north wall of Gubalaun Abbey began with the archaeological testing (under extension to licence 21E0553) of the area proposed for the insertion of steel ground beams, in a green area outside the north wall. The investigation was undertaken to determine if there were any subsurface remains including burials in this area. No features or headstones were present above ground here.

Site investigation was conducted on 11t January 2024. Three trenches were mechanically excavated under archaeological supervision, using a narrow-graded bucket, and trowelled using hand tools. The trenches were excavated in the footprint of the proposed ground beams for the steel supports and to the proposed dimensions of the ground beams.

During testing four burials were encountered. All burials were orientated east-west and appear to be supine. No grave markers or grave settings were visible, but a grave cut was visible for Burial 2. The burials occur at differing depths and were well preserved with both juvenile and adult burials present. The presence of burials meant that subsurface structures north of the church would impact negatively on the burials uncovered and on any further possible archaeological material, including human remains, in this area. The proposed works could not proceed with inserting the ground beams and the proposed conservation works were suspended pending discussion with the National Monuments Service. Preparation of proposals for alternative methods of stabilising and conserving the north wall are under review and subject to CMF 2024 funding.

Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo