Moore Street Archaeological Finds Retrieval Report

Report on Artefacts Recovered from Moore Street National Monument Site

A variety of artefacts spanning the occupation of the national monument at Nos. 14 -17 Moore St from the late 18th century onwards were found between floorboards and in other areas over the course of repair and stabilisation works being carried out by the department in 2015 and 2016. The buildings are owned by the State and are recognised as a national monument because of their links to key moments of the 1916 Rising. No 16 is where the decision to surrender was made by the 1916 Leaders. Together with Nos. 14, 15 and 17, all of which still contain physical evidence of the presence of the Rebels, they are the most original set of pre-1916 buildings on the street.

The department engaged Courtney Deery, Archaeologists, to undertake detailed archaeological monitoring while works were in progress to conserve the buildings and to open them to the public as a 1916 Commemorative Centre. The project was halted by legal proceedings, since concluded, and it is hoped that the works will resume again as soon as possible. Among the artefacts recovered were objects such as nails, pottery fragments, paper, cardboard, lipsticks, cutlery, sewing paraphernalia, and so on. The finds are being conserved and stored by the department’s National Monuments Service with a view to eventually being put on display on the national monument site.

Courtney Deery’s report to the department sets out the nature and scale of the detailed archaeological investigations that were carried out on site as well as giving a comprehensive account of the discoveries. In March 2019 the department organised a viewing of a selection of the recovered artefacts for 1916 Relatives and other members of the Moore Street Advisory Group. The Advisory Group has been tasked by the Minister with finding a way forward for the regeneration of the Moore Street area in a way that reflects its historical associations with the 1916 Rising and that recognises its street trading culture and traditions. Membership is made up of local and Oireachtas representatives, street traders and other stakeholders. It includes representatives of three 1916 relatives groups so as to bring together the full range of views on how best to secure a viable future for Moore Street.

The special showing of the artefacts to the Moore Street Advisory Group by the Courtney Deery archaeologists provided the group, including the Relatives, with a full flavour of what had been found. The archaeologists presented the collection, described the finds retrieval methodology and answered questions. The event was also attended by students from DIT who were given copies of the Courtney Deery report. It also features in the Securing History 2 report which the Moore Street Advisory Group itself presented to the Minister in July 2019.