The wall, on Cook Street, was built around 1100 and marked a significant development in the city’s defences, up to 7 metres high and 3 metres thick in parts.
Neglect and decay set in over time, and the walls were increasingly vulnerable to heavy artillery. The 17th and 18th centuries saw further demolitions due to urban expansion.
Today, remnants of the medieval city walls still exist, notably at Cook Street and Ship Street Little, offering glimpses into Dublin’s historical defences.
A gate on Dublin’s old city walls along Cook Street. Pic: @libertiesdublin
This wall, made of local limestone blocks, incorporated at least three documented gates: St Mary’s Gate to the east, St Nicholas’s Gate to the south and the western gate.
It is speculated that it probably included access to the River Liffey on the northern side.
Work overseen by Dublin City Council’s Archaeology and Heritage Offices and part funded by the Department of Heritage Community Monuments Fund, was undertaken by specialist contractors Oldstone Conservation and was advised by 7L Architects and archaeologist Frank Myles.
The main focus of the work was to repair significant areas of the wall where pointing had failed, leading to persistent growth of invasive weeds such as buddleia.
The Cook Street wall has been described as being “slightly deceptive”, with a modern upper portion sitting atop the medieval wall.
The seam between these two sections, which was a perfect growspace for buddleia, was where most of the problem existed.
The remaining historic city walls in Dublin. Pic: @libertiesdublin
Dublin City Council’s Archaeology and Heritage Offices said the wall has “now been repointed and other vulnerable areas such as the caps of buttresses and the faux battlements repaired”.
The stark white lime contrasts with the Dublin kalpstone, but is expected to weather over time.
The repairs also exposed the jumbled mix of materials used to build the wall.
While kalpstone is the main material, old bricks, granite and slate were also found.
Final repairs are now being made to the inside arch of St Audoen’s Gate and the gates and metalwork will then be repainted.
Improved lighting and the addition of interpretive signage are also planned in the next phase of work to revitalise one of the city’s oldest structures.
