Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

Site of two partially destroyed long cists exposed in the cliff-face, to the north of Loughshinny Harbour, with extensive views of Lambay Island 6.7km to the southeast and Rockabill Lighthouse 7.2km to the northeast, Shenick's Island off the coastline at Skerries barely visible 2.3km to the north.  The two long cists were identified in October of 2021 by archaeologist Ted Pollard, who was working with the Discovery Programme Cherish project while conducting a survey of the north Dublin coastline.  On the 21/10/2021 the site was inspected by Matthew Seaver of the National Museum of Ireland in the company of Christine Baker, Heritage Officer for Fingal County Council, Jane Whitaker, archaeologist and the landowner.  The site was visible as two projecting rectangular-shaped stones set on edge enclosing a long bone visible in the exposed cliff-face just below the top sod.  The stones were c. 2m above the beach level, the section face comprises sandy gravel overlain by sandy soil.  Cist 1 measured 0.4m in width from the outer side of either stone and was 0.15m in height. A photograph of the bone was sent to Dr Linda Lynch who tentatively identified it as human with the caveat that she would need to look at it in person. The second pair of stones (Cist 2) could not be reached from the beach.

The two long cists were re-visited on the 06/11/2025 by Matthew Seaver and the landowner/professional archaeologist Jane Whitaker, the human bone seen protruding from the section face in 2021 (Cist 1) which had now collapsed and had been retrieved by Jane Whitaker in July 2025.  The two cists visible in 2025 were clearly visible along with other potential grave cuts in the section face. The site is clearly impacted by increased storm conditions which over time are eroding the burials. It is not possible to excavate the site without significantly damaging and further eroding the cliff edge.

 

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Matthew Seaver, Assistant Keeper, Irish Antiquities Division of the National Museum of Ireland

 

Date of Compilation: 07/11/2025