2024:213 - Robeen Graveyard, Mayo
County: Mayo
Site name: Robeen Graveyard
Sites and Monuments Record No.: MA110-048002
Licence number: 22E0720 Extension
Author: Richard Crumlish
Author/Organisation Address: 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
Site type: Adjacent to medieval church
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 523468m, N 769356m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.668344, -9.158125
The replacement of twelve sections of concrete footpath within Robeen graveyard (RMP MA110-048002) in County Mayo was monitored over four years: 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. The site consists of a modern graveyard which contains the remains of a medieval church (MA110-048001) in the south-western corner.
The sections replaced measured 18m, 45m, 18m, 14.8m, 6.2m, 39.6m, 28m, 9.6m, 24.8m, 23.1m 18.35m and 11m long respectively with the excavated areas measuring 0.45-1.5m wide and level reduced by 0.1-0.4m. Only the existing footpaths, the modern fill below them and the topsoil on either side was removed. Two modern pottery sherds, two modern glass fragments and plastic were found in the topsoil. One modern glass fragment was recovered from the fill.
Local knowledge dates the construction of the footpath which was replaced to the 1980s/90s. The monitoring revealed evidence of the late 20th-century laying of the concrete footpaths and nothing of archaeological significance.