Sacrifice and Rebirth: the History of Lime Mortar in the North of Ireland

Lime mortar typically evokes thoughts of Roman construction; however, Ireland was somewhat removed from Roman purview. Despite proof of trade with Romans during the first century BC, there is no existing evidence of Roman construction on the island. A lime mortar-like substance covers a Bronze Age burial mound in Co. Roscommon, yet the earliest known buildings utilising lime mortar date to the mid-seventh century and served ecclesiastical purposes. Beginning in the fourteenth century, improved construction methods refined lime mortar usage, with little alteration to the process in succeeding centuries. However, by the early twentieth century, portland cement supplanted lime as the preferred mortar binder. The historic conservation movement then slowly reintroduced lime mortars back into the building lexicon. Thus, the history of lime mortar in Ireland followed a path of repeated discovery, cultural need, technology transfer, dominance, decline and resurgence, a path removed from direct influence by the Romans.