A recently concluded excavation has given archaeologists a renewed sense of confidence in discovering the site of a 12th-century monastery near Downpatrick in County Down. This monastery, known as Erenagh, was tragically destroyed in 1177 by the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy. The significance of this find lies in the fact that Erenagh was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries established in Ireland, adopting a European model that differed from traditional Irish monasteries.
The excavation, which took place over a two-week period and involved various local school groups and community members, unearthed remnants of the monastery, including sections of walls, pottery, bones, slate, and even a 13th-century coin. Brian Sloan from Queen’s University Belfast, who helped lead the excavation, shed light on Erenagh’s architectural layout, emphasizing the presence of a cloister with surrounding buildings that were unique to Cistercian monasteries.
Originally built in 1127, Erenagh flourished for several decades before its unfortunate demise at the hands of John de Courcy. Despite the monastery’s destruction, de Courcy later attempted to make amends by constructing the cathedral at Inch Abbey as an act of penance, subsequently transforming it into a Cistercian monastery. Some of the findings from the excavation include mason marks on stones, pottery fragments, slate roof tiles, and a Henry III coin dating back to the 1200s.
Participants in the excavation, including students from the South Eastern Regional College, expressed their enthusiasm for uncovering ancient artifacts and learning about Ireland’s rich archaeological history. While bars of gold may have eluded the group, their discoveries shed light on the former glory of Erenagh and its lasting impact on Irish archaeology. The findings from the excavation will undergo further analysis, with researchers confident that radiocarbon dating will confirm the site as the long-lost location of the monastery
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