St Mochtas : raising the dead and ancient graveyards in the heart of modern Blanchardstown
St Mochtas, also known as Saint Machutus, was the last living disciple and friend of St Patrick. He founded a Benedictine site called The White Church in Coolmine in the 6th century. We know this from one of the earliest reliable historical sources, Bishop Tírechán, who wrote a list in the 7th century mentioning a church established by St Patricks disciples called Cul Mine (Coolmine) near Cluain Saileach (Clonsilla or The Sally Meadow). Sally was the Latin name for willows or salix , which grew on the borders of The Great Scaldwood.
It’s also interesting that Cluain was used because it doesn’t only mean a meadow but a place of silence. This backs up the notion of monastic and burial grounds. Other documents like the “Crede Mihi” in 1275, mentions a church of Culmyn and tax records for the years 1292 and 1294 show the church and area were involved in trade.
There are many legends about St Mochtas , one being that he could raise people from the dead. A thief was condemned to be drowned with a millstone around his neck by local chieftain/King Ailil. When the thief’s parents, who were apparently very holy, begged St Mochtas to do something he arrived on the scene too late and the thief was already dead. But after some saintly magic, the man was resurrected and went on to be Mochtas right-hand man.
After St Mochtas death his followers merged with the growing church and the White Church was eventually under the control of St Mary’s Abbey. Some sources say it fell in to ruin around 1429 but others, backed up by archaeological evidence, show that Christian power bases in Blanchardstown changed later with The White Church’s influence gradually declining till it totally vanished by 1490. The nearby housing estate called White Chapel is named in its honour. St Mochtas Church in Porterstown and St Mochtas GAA are named after the man himself.
Archaeological evidence of building and a large amount of human remains was discovered in the raised hill near the site of the White Chapel which is now inside the Blanchardstown Millennium Park. This is not to be confused with the nearby ruins of Coolmine House which are also in Millennium Park. All that remains of that original property are walled gardens, laneways and the associated field system.
The White Chapel graveyard site is an oval earth mound approximately 50m east-west by 30m by 0.60m in height. It is surrounded by some large sycamore trees which are a familiar picnic and playing spot for generations of Blanch locals. The graveyard was partially excavated in 1975 when a considerable discovery of human bones were found by a farmer ploughing the area. He notified the landowner who ordered them to be collected and reburied at an unknown location and prevented any further ploughing of the field. As it was an ecclesiastical site the remains likely belong to monks. The White Chapel graveyard site is a nationally registered location, if you want to learn more about it the reference is AC93.