2004:1478 - ROSCOMMON: Abbey National School, Circular Road, Roscommon

Planning permission to extend Abbey National School included a condition that required testing. The site, which is located on the southern side of Circular Road, generally slopes down from west to east. This necessitated extensive ground reductions for the existing school and associated external yards, etc. The sloping ‘cut’ of such ground reductions are evident to the south and west of the existing school premises.

Although outside the area of archaeological potential for Roscommon town, the remains of a Dominican friary (SMR 39:55(01)) are located to the immediate south of the boundary to the subject lands. Aerial photographs (Ref. CUCAP AHM 29 and 30-1963) contained in the files of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland indicate possible earthworks (SMR 39:88) to the north of the friary, within the subject lands. There are now no surface traces of such features.

Testing, which consisted of the excavation of four trenches within the boundaries of the development area, did not uncover any remains of archaeological interest.