St Canice’s Church may be the oldest in Dublin, archaeologists find

Ongoing conservation and archaeological works at St Canice’s Graveyard in Finglas have found that the church located on the grounds may be the oldest church structure in Dublin.

Archaeologist Paul Duffy recently updated community members and public representatives on the work of the conservation team.

Duffy said that the church may date back to the early 11^th century, a lot earlier than previously thought.

Local Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe welcomed the works currently progressing at the site.

“The conservation work has revealed that the church may be one of the oldest standing church structures in Dublin, dating to 1060 or earlier, which would make it one of the earliest churches in Dublin and of the same era as St. Mary’s in Glendalough,” he said.

“St Canice’s has officially been designated as a national monument and while we have always known how important and special it is here in Finglas, I am delighted that the Community Monument Fund will help bring attention to this important location nationally.”

The site has received over €230,000 from the Government’s Community Monument Fund so far which is being used for the restoration of some of the graves and part of the church.

In April 2022, local councillors and TDs came out and criticised the management of the graveyard and church ruins in recent years.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Callaghan said it had fallen in to “disrepair” due to neglect from the local authorities.

Since then, Dublin City Council, an archaeological team, conservation architects, and local volunteers have worked together to restore the site and study it’s history.

In an updated provided to councillors in May, DCC said that repairs on more than 20 graves are nearly complete and that the “Project Team propose to host an engagement meeting/workshop on the best practice maintenance of historical burial places, to assist the community in safeguarding of the site.”

The council says it will now appoint a specialist contractor to “undertake conservation works over the summer of 2023 for drawdown of grant funding in November.”