County: Westmeath Site name: Newcastle, Tyrellspass
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 16E0057
Author: Seán Shanahan
Site type: Nothing of archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642319m, N 739443m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.403431, -7.363599
Investigation was undertaken in advance of a proposed development of a single dwelling house, domestic garage, advanced wastewater treatment system and ancillary site works in Newcastle townland, approximately 1.3km north-east of the town of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. 6 trenches were investigated.
Trench 1 (east-west): This was excavated to a depth of 0.3-0.5m. The sod and topsoil layer comprised a moderately compact light – mid-brown sandy silt with a moderate amount of small and medium rounded and sub-rounded stones. This deposit overlay natural. Two shallow linear cuts were identified towards the eastern end of the cutting. The exposed extent measured 1.5m (north-south) by 0.4m by 0.2m in depth. The profiles for the cuts were V-Shaped and both contained archaeologically sterile fills. There were similar findings from the other trenches, without the cuts.
The development was situated in the immediate environs of a tower-house (WM033-053), which lies approximately 105m to the north. A further six monuments are located within a 1lkm radius of the proposed development. However, test excavation across the proposed development site failed to identify any features or materials of archaeological significance. No evidence of any archaeological remains associated with the adjacent castle was found.
Shanarc Archaeology Ltd, 39A Hebron Business Park, Hebron Rd, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny
