G. Yd.

An almost square area (dims. L c. 60m N-S; Wth c. 60m E-W) located between the Early Christian monastic foundation of 'Cluain Damh' (KD014-026017-) c. 160m to the NNW and a motte (KD014-026004-) c. 180m to the SSW and containing 'Clane Abbey' (KD014-026005-), a 13th century Franciscan Friary. Burials are concentrated to the S of the friary ruins. In 1999, archaeological test-trenching (Excavation Licence No. 99E0386: www.excavations.ie), informed by previous geophysical investigations of a rectangular area (dims. L 40m; Wth 40m) N of the graveyard (KD014-026011-), confirmed the presence and extent of subsurface wall-features and suggested they were associated with the upstanding remains of the friary. Additional walls were also discovered to the S and SW of the graveyard and a number of burials were found outside, to the N, S and W, of the graveyard boundary walls. A gravelled surface, uncovered to the SW of the graveyard, may be the remains of a road (or street?), identified previously from aerial photographs. A stone-built 'tunnel' with an arched roof, running SW from the SE corner of the graveyard was also discovered (dims. L 8.8m NE-SW; Wth 1.2m; H above fill on floor 0.85m). This structure had been truncated by a modern sewerage pipe, and while not representative of classic Man-made underground passage construction methods, the excavator suggested it was possibly a passage leading to a Man-made underground passage chamber. Sherds of medieval pottery, fragments of roof tiles and fragments of decorated floor tiles, all of which were probably related to the friary, were also found. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011