A conservation plan for the Carrickmines Castle archaeological site in south Dublin has described it as overgrown, vandalised and suffering as a consequence of antisocial behaviour.
The plan, prepared by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on foot of a directive from the Department of the Environment, has been published in draft form, for public comment, on the council’s website.
It notes that archaeologists who directed excavations considered the site as “among the most important medieval rural excavations ever to take place on the island of Ireland” .
The site came to prominence during preparations for the M50 motorway, when excavations revealed the remains were more extensive than previously thought. Archaeologists found cannon balls, human remains, coins, cut stone window caps, medieval footwear and an elaborate key, among other artefacts.
Information was also uncovered about a siege in 1642 in which every man, woman and child inside the fortification was killed, with the bodies buried in two mass graves on site.
In 2004, the government directed that remains not already excavated from the main line and ancillary roads of the motorway be preserved in situ, and that proposals for the long-term conservation of the remaining archaeology be drawn up.
Final report
The final report on the excavations was submitted to the council in August 2012. The site is owned by the council.The Draft Carrickmines Castle Conservation Plan 2015-2025 makes a series of recommendations for raising awareness of the archaeological significance of the area.
It notes the site has become effectively an island between the M50 motorway, two roundabouts and a slip road. It is “currently overgrown and is suffering from vandalism and anti-social behaviour”.
A fosse – a lower walled part of the castle – is located behind a wooden palisade on one of the roundabouts, while the ruins of a gatehouse, possibly the largest element of the castle to be found above ground, is about 100 yards to the northwest. The remains of the castle gatehouse “are in a poor condition and require conservation work”.
The conservation plan also notes physical access to the site is severely restricted and “access to parts of the site currently necessitates climbing down the face of the stone-revetted fosse, an activity which is not only a health and safety issue but will cause wear on the structure itself if no alternative access is provided”.
Moreover, “access within the entire site is limited by plant growth”.
A farmhouse on the site and ancillary buildings which are not considered to have architectural heritage value are in poor condition, with their roofs “in varying stages of failure”.
Recommendations
In a series of recommendations for the conservation of the site, the plan says little is known of the archaeology of the core castle area which remains preserved in situ.
The plan recommends raising awareness of the history of the castle, periodic maintenance of green areas and farm buildings and the provision of “intellectual and physical access”.
According to Tim Carey, heritage officer with Dún Laoghaire council, the plan is “an honest assessment” which “is not trying to hide anything”.
He said before the conservation plan was prepared, an archaeological summary and assessment had to be provided. This was carried out in the years up to 2013.
Carrickmines Castle: from mass slaughter to conservation
On March 26th-27th, 1642: Sir Simon Harcourt arrived from Dublin with 800 soldiers to lay siege to Carrickmines Castle, the property of the Walsh family since the 12th century. The Walsh family had harboured rebels.
Every man, woman and child in the fortification was either killed by sword or musket fire, or later put to death by blows from the butt end of muskets, the hilts of swords or the handles of hatchets.
The bodies were buried in two mass graves on site. Although successful, Harcourt was mortally wounded. 2001: Construction work begins on the southeastern motorway, part of the M50.
2002 - 2003: Phase 1 of the main excavations at Carrickmines are led by Dr Mark Clinton of Valerie J Keeley Ltd.
2002 - 2003: Site is occupied by "Carrickminders" to prevent construction during legal action.
2003: First Supreme Court case attempts to stop the motorway (Dunne v Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown).
2004: Second case begins in the High Court (Mulcreevy v Minister for Environment), again attempting to stop the motorway.
2004: Government directs a conservation plan be prepared.
2005: Supreme Court rejects final case from Dunne.
2005 -2012: Post-excavation works.
2012 - 2013: Delivery of artefacts and archive collection to the resource centre at the National Museum.
2013 - 2015: Preparation of conservation plan.
