Rumours of human remains find dismissed

Bones uncovered by contractors working on the Abbeylands project in Cavan town, originally thought to have been human, are now thought to have been animal remains.

The remains uncovered yesterday prompted the contractors to cease work and contact an archaeologist, who has been on site today. The location is the carpark of the former Donohoe's Foodfare, accessed from Abbey Street.

However a spokesperson for the council told the Celt that nothing of any archaeological significance has been discovered at any site in the Abbeylands. In the event anything is found, National Monuments Service will notify the public.

The contractors have been digging a series of trenches to establish if there are features of archaeological significance in this historic area of Cavan town. As soon as the bones were uncovered at a depth of around three metres, digging ceased and an archaeologist was contacted. As a precaution the bones were covered with plastic sheeting and gravel to prevent any disturbance.

This site is key to the council's ambitious Abbeylands project which is expected to greatly enhance this section of the town centre for both commercial and recreational purposes. Cavan County Council bought the Donohoe's site for approximately €500,000 at the start of this year.

The area is adjacent to the Franciscan Abbey, with its famous bell tower the only feature surviving. Originally the abbey was on a much larger site, stretching down to the current Bridge Street car park, and is likely to have included the area where the animal remains were found.

The remains of military leader Owen Roe O'Neill are thought to have been buried on these grounds after his death during the conflict with Cromwellian forces.