Church, Grave Yard, Cross — Kilgobbin

This record was formerly classed as 'ecclesiastical remains'. Kilgobbin (Cill Ghobáin) parish church ruins stands on a high ridge running E-W, situated on the N slope of Three Rock Mountain on the S side of Kilgobbin Lane, near Stepaside Village. Kilgobbin Castle (DU025-017001-) stands 485m to the NNE. The 12th-century high cross (DU025-016011-) and bullaun stone (DU025-016012-) stands 35m to the NW. The church and graveyard lies in the present parish of Kilgobbin, in the barony of Rathdown and probably stands on the site of the early Christian monastery (DU025-016----) founded in the 7th-century by St. Gobán. According to Ó Riain (2011, 367); 'This name derives from Gob(ba), a hypocoristic or pet form based on gabha/ gobha, 'smith', with masculine suffix -án (Gobán) and feminine suffix - nait/-naid (Gobnaid). A number of saints names, including not only Gobán (Gobbán) and Gobnaid, but also Moghobóg, reflect this hypocorism, as does the name of the legendary Craftsman, the Gobán Saor. In a non-hypocoristic form, the name was borne by Goibhne, smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann, an Irish of the Celtic smith-god, known in Wales as Govannon. A week later (1 April), a saint of the name Gobán was given pride of place in the Martyrology of Tallaght, which may have led to John O'Hanlon giving the church of Kilgobbin in the Dublin barony of Rathdown, not far from Tallaght, more prominence than any other in his entry for this day'. Excavations by Teresa Bolger in 2004 under licence No. 04E1373 to the west and south of Kilgobbin church and graveyard in advance of a housing development identified a complex sequence of enclosures with associated corn drying kilns and field ditches, mostly dating from between AD 650 and 950. The results of her excavation were summarised by the excavator as follows; 'Excavation was carried out in six areas that had been identified by a programme of monitoring undertaken by Ellinor Larsson (No. 644 above, 04E0777). The majority of the areas investigated during this phase of work appear to relate to the church site and to date to the 5th-12th centuries AD. Area D1 Area D1 was located directly south-east of the church site within the area zoned for green space. Topsoil has been stripped over an area measuring up to 50m by 25m revealing a complex and dense concentration of archaeological features and deposits, the most significant of which were a pair of curvilinear ditches, indicating the remains of successive circular or subcircular enclosures. An area measuring c. 50m by 6m was excavated through Area D1 to create a corridor for the main services conduits. The remainder of the area was sealed with terram and backfilled for the purpose of preservation in situ. Investigation within the services corridor indicated occupation over multiple phases with evidence for a sequence of enclosures oriented on at least three distinct alignments. There was also evidence for activity pre-dating the earliest enclosure ditch and post-dating the latest. Four main phases of activity have been identified, which would appear to be of early medieval date and to relate directly to the ecclesiastical site. Phase I The earliest occupation evidence identified appeared to pre-date all the enclosing ditches identified at the site. It was mainly characterised by a circular slot-trench and pit. No finds were recovered from the deposits associated with this phase. Phase II The second phase of activity was defined by a north-south-orientated ditch (C3) traversing the southern and central parts and a concentration of post-holes in the northern part of Area D1. It is not entirely clear whether this ditch represents the remains of a field boundary or if it defined an enclosure. It extended north-south from the southern limit of excavation for c. 18m before terminating. It tended to curve very slightly to the east. No direct relationship could be established between it and the scatter of post-holes further north. A number of ferrous objects including a couple of possible pins were recovered from deposits associated with this phase of activity, as well as a small fragment of a clay mould. Phase III Phase III provided the first evidence for a formal circular or subcircular enclosure, represented by the curving ditch C14/C155. It defined an area c. 37m in diameter. The curvature of this ditch indicates that the present church and graveyard would not have been encompassed by it. It should be noted that the size of the enclosure would be within the middle range for ringfort sites. The only other associated activity within this enclosure was limited to a scatter of post-holes in the centre and south of Area D1. Finds associated with Phase III include a ferrous knife and pin. Phase IVa-c Phase IV represents the main phase of occupation recorded at the site. Three sub-levels were identified within this phase. This phase began with the development of a large curvilinear ditch (C21) running across the central part of Area D1. Again,this ditch is likely to have defined a circular or subcircular enclosure. The curvature of this cut suggests that it would have encompassed all or at least a significant portion of the present church and graveyard. It is likely that it was associated with an ecclesiastical foundation. No other features can be clearly associated with this phase of activity, but it is likely that such features survive in those areas of the site which remain uninvestigated. Phase IVb was characterised by the apparent deliberate backfilling of this ditch, probably by levelling out an associated bank. Phase IVc was characterised by the latest in the sequence of ditches (C8). The original site survey carried out by Arch-Tech Ltd suggests that C8 intersected the Phase IVa ditch, C21, but did not cross it. Unfortunately this section of the site lay outside of the extent of this excavation. It is likely that C8 represents an alteration of or adjustment to the enclosure defined by C21. It would appear that for some the reason the area enclosed by C21 in Area D1 was not large enough and this necessitated the backfilling of C21 and its bank and excavation of an annexe ditch (C8) to the south. Certainly C8 does appear to define the southern extent of a spread of deposits and features which produced very strong evidence for metalworking and related industrial processes. The uppermost material sealing C21 (ditch) produced extensive evidence for metalworking in the form of slags and crucible fragments. A series of pits (C31, C30 and C70) also produced evidence for metalworking. A rich array of finds was recovered from the deposits associated with Phase IV. This included a selection of ferrous and copper-alloy pins, a fragment of a polychrome bead, a lignite bracelet, a selection of crucible sherds and a highly ornate copper-alloy clasp. Phase V The latest phase of activity identified at Area D1 was characterised by evidence for later agricultural practices, mainly the presence of shallow plough furrows. Area D2 and D3 Area D2 measured a maximum of 15m east-west by a maximum of 15m and Area D3 measured a maximum of 25m north-south by a maximum of 18m. They were located adjacent to each other in the north-west of the site, just south of Kilgobbin Lane. The two areas were separated by a buried live electrical cable and were only 2m apart at their closest point. Three phases of activity could be identified; both areas were characterised by ditches of possible early medieval date. Phase I was mainly characterised by a pair of ditches, Phase II by a single burnt feature and Phase III by quarrying and cultivation. Features associated with this area extend north and east into the area zoned for green space. It seems likely that the two ditches which characterise Phase I are related. They appear to define a large subrectangular/subcircular enclosure that extended beyond the limit of excavation to the east and north. A possible rubbish pit and the presence of large amounts of animal bon