The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., has launched the “Ardfert Cathedral Summary of Excavation Results” in Ardfert Cathedral, Co. Kerry. Minister Gormley said that this publication was “part of Department’s goal to make the results of archaeological excavations in Ireland widely publicly available and, especially, the results of excavations undertaken by or on behalf of the National Monuments Service”. The publication summarises the results of large-scale excavations carried out at Ardfert Cathedral by the National Monuments Service between 1989 to 1998 in tandem with major conservation works overseen by the Office of Public Works and Shaffrey Associates of Dublin.

The summary publication illustrates and explains the more significant findings in the excavations, including the discovery of the foundations of an 11th century stone church, mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, a section of the early monastic enclosure and over 2,000 burials which range in date from early medieval times to the 17th century. A number of finely decorated early cross-slabs as well as later medieval examples were uncovered as well as a range of small finds reflecting the wide contacts made by the people of Ardfert over a 1200-year period.

Before the conservation works, needed to underpin the entire Cathedral structure, could commence the remains of deceased local people were removed from inside the cathedral and around its walls, to the adjoining cemetery, to facilitate the works. Archaeological excavations uncovered the medieval cemetery ranging in date from the 6th to 17th centuries and over 2,0000 medieval burials were recorded in detail.

The Minister said “Over 1,000 significant artefacts were discovered representing facets of life across the centuries including woodworking, cloth-making, trade, writing and prayer. These unearthed artefacts can be viewed against the turbulent history of the site ranging from its first mention in the Annals of Inisfallen for 1046 when the stone church was hit by lightning to its final destruction in the 17th Century during the Confederate wars”.

Ongoing conservation works at the Ardfert Cathedral site are being carried out under the direction of the Office of Public Works with archaeological advice and support provided by the National Monuments Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Works include the newly conserved Templenagriffin which will house the large collection of early and medieval graveslabs, architectural fragments and other carved stone work found in the course of the excavations. Another aspect of the work at Ardfert has been the provision of new headstones and surrounds for those whose remains were transferred from the cathedral to the adjoining cemetery and to the new cemetery in Ardfert.