‘We struck gold’: ‘Amazing’ 13th-century monastery unearthed in Meath

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"Hugely significant" finds of a rare French structure and medieval pottery have been found during recent archaeological excavations in Co Meath, supporting a long-held belief that the site was once home to Cistercian monks from Normandy.

Noted medieval expert Matthew Stout and his wife archaeologist Geraldine Stout have described the finds of 13th-century French jugs and ceramic roof tiles as "hugely significant" at the site in Beymore, just outside Drogheda.
They also found a corn drying kiln and dried peas, which, they say, prove crop rotation was ongoing in the 13th century.

Surveying the "unusual features" of an existing gatehouse in the field, two of Ireland's foremost medieval building archaeologists, David Sweetman and Con Manning, say a diagonal French buttress is "very rare, if not unique in Ireland". They now believe the site at Beaubec to have been the home of a 13th century medieval monastic farm associated with the French Cistercian foundation of De Bello Becco (Beaubec).

The excavations were undertaken at the behest of landowner and local historian John McCullen who believed there was something special about the ruins, which lie in one of his fields.

"John has always believed that Beaubec is a special place, and we are fortunate people that we were able to unearth this amazing story," said Matthew Stout.

"Beaubec is ideally located to throw light on the involvement of the Cistercians in commercial development and international maritime trade in the Boyne Valley during the medieval period.

Full article here :  https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/--940874.html