Earthwork in Malahide

According to Flanagan (1984, 112) there was a mound on the present site of St Sylvester's church. Test excavation (Licence no. 10E0426) was undertaken in advance of an extension to the modern church. A small undated pit/drainage gully and a silty deposit that may date from the medieval period, were identified. Further testing (Licence no. 11E0326) uncovered medieval structural remains, ditch pits and 18th/19th century masonry walls. The recovery of medieval pottery is interpreted as some level of activity taking place on the site or in the vicinity during the 13th or 14th centuries. It is possible that the pottery sherds could relate to activity associated with the mound that once stood on this site, perhaps suggesting that it may have been a motte or a rath that was occupied for a considerable period of time. No visible surface remains. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 January 2015