2025:513 - Churchlands, Lemanaghan, Offaly

Archaeological monitoring and excavation was undertaken on behalf of Offaly County Council (OCC) and the National Monuments Service (NMS),within the enclosure surrounding the site of site of Mella’s Cell (SMR OF015-004014), at Lemanaghan monastery, County Offaly. The works were conducted to an agreed methodology which was drawn up at the request of both Amanda Pedlow, Offaly County Council (OCC) Heritage Officer, and latterly Grace Fegan of the NMS.

The enclosure around Mella’s cell is planted with several mature trees, including several large Scots pine. Storm Eowyn felled four of these trees on site on January 24, 2025. Three trees fell internally in a north-east direction, whilst a further tree (a poplar) fell across the associated enclosure. Their uprooting resulted in significant disturbance to the inside of the enclosure, with human remains exposed in the three internal root plates. These remains were assessed on several occasions by the NMS, including by Dr Linda Lynch, NMS archaeologist and osteoarchaeologist, who confirmed the remains of multiple individuals within the internal tree boles. The site was also visited by the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) on a number of occasions, who removed some loose bone from the site.

Following these examinations a successful grant application to the Community Monuments Fund 2025 (CMF25) was made to cover the costs of archaeological monitoring and tree surgery at the site, to redress the storm damage. These works were to include a visual examination of the exposed human remains in situ and reinstatement of the tree root systems to as level a surface as was practicable. Aside from the recovery of three suitable pieces of bone for C14 dating, all human remains were to be preserved in situ. These works commenced on 25 June 2025, with monitoring works completed on 21 and 22 July (recording was also undertaken on June 26 and 27). Whilst the tree surgery was completed, with no damage to the site, the root plates unfortunately could not be levelled without excavation (which was not permitted under the terms of the licence). The failure to level the root plates was due to significant ‘bedding’ of the root plates as well as erosion of sediment from the tree root systems into the underlying cavities in the months since Storm Eowyn.

At the conclusion of the works the site was left safe and as level as possible and discussions were held with OCC, NMS, the NMI and the local community on the best strategy to deal with the remaining root plates and the human remains they still contained. On balance, it was decided to hand excavate the root plates in full to the level of the ground surface, fully removing and documenting any burials. These works were done under an extension to the existing licence, which was issued on October 10; this stage of excavation was not funded by CMF2025, instead being financed as a rescue excavation by the NMS, which was also awarded to the IHS following a competitive tender process.

Considering the long time period between the exposure of the remains and their excavation, rescue excavations were expedited and commenced on October 16. The works were undertaken by an experienced team, including Dr Denis Shine (licensed Director), Dr Annamaria Diana (bioarchaeologist), two supervisors and two site assistants. During the works the remains of four articulated burials were exposed, recorded and excavated. A considerable amount of disarticulated human bone, most presumably eroded from the burials in the period between January and October, was also recovered. All this material is currently being fully assessed, together with bone collected by the NMI. The results of this analysis, together with a set of three radiocarbon dates, will be incorporated into a full and final stratigraphic report in 2026, with a preliminary report on the excavations already completed in 2025.