A ringfort that may be up to 1,400 years old has been discovered beneath the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown, adding an unexpected historical dimension to one of the country’s most important sporting sites.

The early medieval enclosure, believed to date from between 600 and 900 AD, was uncovered near the Campus cross-country running track during archaeological investigations ahead of the Uisce Éireann Greater Dublin Drainage Project.

At approximately 75 metres in diameter, the ringfort has caught the attention of archaeologists who believe it may once have been an important settlement.

Ringforts were common in early medieval Ireland, generally serving as family homes and farmsteads while also providing protected space for livestock.

Members of the Blanchardstown and Castleknock History Society and the Clonsilla and Porterstown Heritage Society have visited the excavation to hear more about what has been uncovered.

Among the objects found at the site is a flint hollow scraper estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old, alongside cooking ware pottery dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries.

“Sport Ireland is proud to foster a strong connection to the local community and its heritage,” said Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May.

“The discovery of the ringfort only strengthens our understanding of the area. As we continue to expand and develop the world-class sports facilities on the Sport Ireland Campus, we will continue to respect the history of the area while building towards a sustainable, exciting future.”

The archaeological work is part of preparations for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, one of the largest pieces of wastewater infrastructure planned for the region.

Project archaeologist Derek Gallagher said the remains had first been identified through a combination of geophysical surveys and test trenching.

“Discoveries like this provide a fascinating glimpse into how people lived in this area over a thousand years ago. Archaeological investigations not only help protect our heritage, but they also create a permanent record that contributes to our understanding of the history of the site and can be shared with future generations.”

All archaeological records and archive material from the excavation will ultimately be deposited with the National Monuments Service Archive, while recovered artefacts will go to the National Museum of Ireland.

The Greater Dublin Drainage Project has been designated as critical national infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026.

Sport for Business Perspective

There is an enduring sporting narrative about current generations building on the work of those who have gone before. This brings that to another level.

There is also the appealing symmetry of finding a ringfort at the location of a venue dedicated to excellence in an Olympic sporting environment.

If it were storyboarded as part of a promotional campaign for the Campus, it would probably be dismissed as being too far-fetched. We love that it is far from that now.

There is potential to interpret the find for visitors through signage, digital storytelling or incorporation into future Campus tours.

The strongest sporting venues tend to be more than collections of pitches, tracks and buildings. They develop a sense of place.

The Sport Ireland Campus has just uncovered another 1,400 years of its own history.

 

 

 

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Image Credit: Sport for Business / Canva

 

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