The IAFS conducted excavations in the field surrounding Clone Church in December 2019 and August 2021. These excavations were undertaken under licence to the National Monuments Service (19E0766 and 19E0766 ext.) under the National Monuments Act 1930-2014. This report constitutes a final report for Cuttings 1 and 2 (Season 1) and a preliminary report for Cuttings 3 and 4 (Season 2) under the terms of that Act and includes the results of specialist analyses. The excavations aimed to investigate geophysical anomalies identified at surveys at the site (19R0238 and 21E219) in 2019 and 2021 (and previously identified at the site during a drone flyover in 2018). The excavations across both seasons consisted of four discreet cuttings – all of which were found to contain archaeology.

The excavation was undertaken in partnership with Clone Church Conservation Group (CCCG) and was a first step of a major new heritage initiative being jointly developed by the IAFS, Wexford County Council and the local community. This project includes an international field school, which commenced at St Mary’s Abbey, in nearby Ferns, in 2021. This project is partly funded as a part of Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints initiative, a new cross-border arts and heritage project linking North Pembrokeshire and North Wexford.