Donabate

Donabate Cemetery

Donabate Cemetery is located in relatively flat fields of tillage and pasture to the west of the R126 on the outskirts of Donabate village. While there are upstanding archaeological features of early medieval date at the site, documentary evidence and evidence from archaeological excavations near the site point to an early medieval foundation at the site.

Historical Context

The Church of Donabate, which is dedicated to St. Patrick, has early medieval origins, however the church which can be seen today was built in c.1758, by Abbott Cobbe. A reference from 1275 says that there was a monastery of Grey Friars there and another from 1532 records that the church was “impropriate to the nuns of Grany".

The churchyard is located on the north side of the village green. The 18th century church’s porch incorporates a late medieval (c. 15th century) gothic limestone doorway and an inscription of two coats of arms. There is also a tower house, complete with an original nail-studded door adjoining the east end of the church. Other interesting features at the site include 18th century and earlier grave slabs in the porch. One of these must come from the old church and is dedicated to Staffordstown and his wife, Begnet de la Hoyde who died in 1592. Another memorial of note commemorates Abbot Cobbe (D.1765), who built the church and is situated in the north wall of the nave. There is a sundial dating to the 18th century above the doorway.

It was recorded that there was a holy well known as ‘St. Kenny’s Well’ near the site. The well was also marked on the 1st ed. O.S. map, although there are no visible remains of this today. The holy well known as the "chink well" at Donabate is said to cure whooping cough.

Archaeological and Architectural Features

The graveyard contains a mid-18th century Church of Ireland Church with a late medieval tower house at the northeast end. It has roughcast rendered walls and a single span pitched slate roof. There is a pointed arched opening with a nail studded door and sundial in a small porch to the west end of the south wall. There are round-headed openings in the south wall of the nave. There are early grave slabs in the porch including one dedicated to Staffordstown and his wife, Begnet de la Hoyde (D.1592). The three-storey tower house with stepped battlements is attached to the northeast corner.

General Description

Sub-oval graveyard. The south wall consists of harled random rubble limestone wall with coping. The ground level within the graveyard is raised at least 1-1.5m above the surrounding ground level. There is a paved entrance to the porch. The graveyard contains a mixture of gravestones of 18th, 19th and 20th century date, predominantly east-facing and carved from limestone with some later marble examples. There is a decorative vault to the northeast of the church accessed by stone steps and surrounded by cast-iron railings. There are unmarked stones to the southwest of the church. To the southeast of the church are 18th and 19th century slabs. There are slabs built into the wall of the tower. The graveyard contains memorials to Dublin merchants including one which is inscribed as follows "Here lieth the body of Robert Nugent of the City of Dublin, Grocer, died September 16th 1784, Aged 30 years". The headstone is well carved and the back has been dressed with a series of inscribed lines.