Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

The medieval ruins of the church (DU013-020001-) of St. Caoimhghin (Coemhin/Kevin) in the townland of Abbotstown (Kylmekynyn), parish of Castleknock is located on a high point in the N quadrant of an oval-shaped graveyard (DU013-020002-) with holy well (DU013-020003-) to SE. On the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map the church is shown standing in the centre of a smaller rectangular-shaped graveyard. On Rocque's 1760 map of Dublin the church is shown standing beside a road connecting Castleknock to Abbotstown, which is shown on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map. The church (DU013-020001-) and graveyard at Abbotstown is situated on the grounds of the State Laboratory (Healy 1975, 21). The ground falls away steeply S of the church where there is an enclosing stone-faced fosse (Wth 4.7m x D 1.6m). This is replaced by a wall along the W and N side of the site, which appears to be built on an earlier earthwork of the earlier enclosing element of the small rectangular-shaped graveyard depicted on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map. The graveyard contains numerous 18th century memorials dedicated to merchants form the city of Dublin including Philip Reilly (1774), Maurice Ward (1773) and Daniel Darcy (1757). Associated with St Coemhin's well or Caveen well (DU013-020003-) which was closed up by the landlord (Ó Danachair 1958, 74).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 24 April 2023

References

Ó Danachair, C. 1958 The holy wells of county Dublin. Reportorium Novum 2, 68-87; 2, No. 2 The holy wells of County Dublin: A supplementary list, 233-5.

Healy, P. 1975b Third report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.

Healy, P. 1975a Second report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta.

O'Danachair, C. 1958 The holy wells of Dublin. In Reportorium Novum 2 (1). 68-87.