Malahide (Castle Abbey)

Malahide Castle Abbey Cemetery

Malahide Castle Abbey Cemetery (or Malahide Demesne Church Cemetery) is located within the demesne of Malahide Castle. The graveyard is bounded by curving hedgerow and a random rubble limestone wall. The upstanding archaeological remains on the site are late medieval in date.

Historical Context

The church stands in the demesne of Malahide adjacent to Malahide Castle, and is said to have been founded when the Talbot family settled at Malahide.

The ruins of the church consist of a late 15th century nave and 16th century chancel with a triple arched bell turret at the west end and a square tower at the southeast corner. The tower is a two-storey building which was originally intended for use as a vestry or residence, but which has been used through many centuries as the burial place of the lords of the manor. Important monuments include one to Maud Plunkett which also carries her effigy, wearing a horned cap and a stoup. She was said to be "maid, wife and widow" in one day as her first husband was killed on the morning of their marriage. On the exterior are two sheela-na-gigs. The church was destroyed by Myles Corbet under Cromwell who used the church to stable his horses and used the lead from the roof to make bullets. The church was never repaired as it recorded as being ruinous in Bulkeley's visitation of 1630.

Archaeological and Architectural Features

The remains of a large late medieval church survive within the graveyard. A later sacristy abuts the southeast corner of the chancel. The church is constructed of coursed limestone masonry with stepped battlements to the north and south walls. There is a distinct batter and two buttresses at the west end. There is a triple bellcote on the west gable. The are opposed pointed arched openings at the west end of the nave. The southern opening has a bishops head to the moulding on the exterior and a sandstone water stoup to the interior. There are triple light windows in the east wall of the chancel and the west.

General Description

Sub-circular graveyard bounded by curving hedgerow and random rubble limestone wall with curved battlements and rubble limestone gate piers with iron gates in north.

The graveyard contains a number of inscribed 18th, 19th and early to mid-20th century markers. There are also undecorated stone markers and possible re-used architectural fragments. The ground is rough and undulating and may contain unmarked graves. The legs of a possible table tomb are located to the north of the church. The interior of the church has also been used for burial and contains a significant late medieval effigial tomb. The tomb is contained within a railed plot and has carved side panels and is covered by a large limestone slab with a recumbent effigy of Maud Plunkett. There is a 19th century box tomb located at the east end of the chancel. The church interior also contains a number of headstones, some of which are now lying on the ground.