2025:738 - Carrigtwohill Abbey, Cork

A programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken to facilitate conservation repairs to the tower of Carrigtwohill Abbey, located within St David’s Graveyard, Church Lane, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork. Works commenced on 29 September 2025 and were carried out intermittently until 7 November 2025. These conservation works were undertaken with funding made available through the Community Monuments Fund 2025 (CMF Ref.: CMF25-1-CO004).

The works comprised:
• masonry and mortar repairs to address ongoing loss of mortar and potential structural failure of the remains of the south-west and south-east corner pinnacles/crenelations;
• masonry and mortar repairs to address ongoing loss of mortar and potential structural failure at the base of the tower along the south façade and the south-east corner;
• removal of unwanted vegetation to facilitate the works; and
• a programme of mortar re-pointing on the south and west façades to slow further deterioration caused by general weather exposure.

All works were carried out under the direction and to the specifications of Southgate and Associates Heritage Conservation Specialists, by Kieran Ahern, Conservation Engineer, in accordance with the Method Statement submitted and approved in May 2025, and in full compliance with the Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavation (DoHLG, 1999).

No new archaeological objects or previously unknown architectural fragments were noted during the monitoring of works.