2025:562 - Kilmacanogue Church, Wicklow

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during Phase 1 conservation works at Kilmacanogue medieval church and graveyard under the Community Monuments Fund 2025 (CMF25-1-WI002). The works were carried out under Ministerial Consent C001464 on behalf of Wicklow County Council between October and November 2025.

Kilmacanogue Church is an early medieval ecclesiastical site comprising a nave and chancel within a sub-oval graveyard. The standing remains are constructed of roughly coursed sandstone masonry with granite quoins and architectural dressings. The monument had suffered extensive structural deterioration due to prolonged vegetation growth, mortar loss, grave digging adjacent to the walls and associated subsidence. A significant collapse of the west gable occurred in early 2025.

Phase 1 works focused primarily on the west gable. Dense ivy was removed under supervision, revealing substantial structural failure including separation of the outer face from the wall core. Collapsed masonry was removed by hand and sorted under archaeological supervision. Several architectural fragments were recovered from the rubble, including granite jamb stones and an intact granite window head from the west gable window. All worked stone was separated, catalogued and securely stored on site. No below-ground excavation was undertaken.

The unstable upper portion of the west gable was carefully dismantled to a safe level (to the base of the window opening). The north-west corner, which had rotated and separated from the north wall, was dismantled and rebuilt using original quoin stones. Stainless-steel reinforcement bars were inserted horizontally across the joint to stabilise the corner. The south-west corner was stabilised and the remaining wall head was consolidated.

Vegetation removal from the east gable and chancel arch exposed further defects, including a major vertical crack, dislodged limestone window surrounds and significant mortar loss. Crack stitching, localised consolidation and repointing in compatible lime mortar were undertaken. The north wall of the nave was partially repointed and wall tops consolidated.

All works were monitored archaeologically. No human remains were encountered and no subsurface archaeological deposits were disturbed. The exposed wall cores confirmed extensive historic mortar loss but revealed no previously unknown structural phases. The monument is now in a stable interim condition pending Phase 2 conservation works.