2026:076 - Kildare Innovation Campus (KIC), Barnhall Road, Parsonstown, Leixlip, Kildare
County: Kildare
Site name: Kildare Innovation Campus (KIC), Barnhall Road, Parsonstown, Leixlip
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 24E0535
Author: Michael Greiner & Seán Shanahan; Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kildare
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 698538m, N 735021m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.356208, -6.519767
Archaeological test-excavations were carried out between 14 and 22 May 2024, in relation to Phase 1 of a multi-phase development of the Kildare Innovation Centre at the Kildare Innovation Campus (KIC), also known as Liffey Business Campus, occupying the former Hewlett-Packard (HP) site at Barnhall Road, Leixlip, Co. Kildare.
Prior to testing, the greenfield areas of the wider site were subjected to a geophysical survey, under survey licence no. 24R0033; three of the associated geophysical survey areas fell within the Phase 1 development area. The geophysical survey data was primarily indicative of extensive modern disturbance, though a substantial number of anomalies were identified as potential archaeology in the form of possible pits or deposits.
Test-excavations comprised thirty-nine test-trenches. The test-trenches were distributed across all available and previously untested portions of the Phase 1 development area. Within the previous geophysical survey areas, the test-trenches were specifically targeted on those anomalies which had been identified as potential archaeology during the geophysical survey. During testing several of the trenches the in the proposed test-trench array had to be realigned to account for overhead power-lines and/or underground cables.
The excavated test-trenches measured 2m in width and ranged in length from 15–70m. The general stratigraphy of excavated material comprised c. 0.2-0.5m of topsoil consisting of mid- to light-brown silty clay with occasional small stones, which overlay light yellow-gray boulder clay with occasional bands of limestone and areas of sand and gravel.
No archaeological finds, features or deposits were identified in any of the excavated test-trenches.
Following the excavation of the test-trenches, the excavation of a new haul road was monitored in the western and south-eastern portions of the site, as well as the excavation of a lay-down area adjacent to the existing road at the northwest of the site.
No archaeological finds, features or deposits were identified during monitored works relating to the new haul road or lay-down area.
