2023:692 - Caherconlish, Limerick

A programme of archaeological testing was undertaken in advance of the construction of two additional classrooms at Caherconlish National School, Caherconlish village. The site was within the constraint area of the historic town of Caherconlish (LI014-079).

Three test trenches were opened on the imprint of the proposed extension which will be sited to the rear of the existing school building. A thin imported garden/topsoil overlaid a layer of relatively modern builder’s debris intermixed with soil, which had a thickness of 500/600mm. This deposition, which may have been associated with the building works on the school in 1980/81, raised the level of the site, sealing the original topsoil.

Within two test trenches, three linear ditches and 2 pits were revealed. Likely to have been of post-medieval date, these features were excavated as part of monitoring the construction phase (Licence No. 23E0590 – Re-activation).