2024:749 - Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass), Section A-C: Stage (i)a, (i)c, (i)f, (i)m & Stage (ii) archaeological works, Limerick

Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations, Stage (i)c Test Excavations in Wetland and Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Surveys were undertaken by Archaeological Management Solutions on behalf of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC), sponsored by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), within Section A–C of the Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass), Co. Limerick under Ministerial Direction No. A000084 between 16 May and 22 November 2024. The vast majority of the testing was completed by 22 November 2024 with the exception of some small sections of the Project including Test Excavation Areas WL_A003, WL_A006, WL_A007, TE_A_06, TE_A018, WL_C004, TE_C007, TE_C014, TE_C015, TE_C017, FW_C002 where some limited testing under a selected number of overhead ESB powerlines will be undertaken and additional testing in some areas where access needs to be finalised (TE_C016 and TE_C018). These areas will be subject to Stage (i)a, (i)c and (i)m testing in 2025.

The archaeological testing was carried out in the townlands of Durnish, Ardaneer, Corgrig, Sroolane, Sroolane North, Robertstown, Rincullia, Craggs, Mulderricksfield, Ballyclogh, Ballyellinan, Ballycullen, Cloonreask, Coolrahnee, Lismakeery, Baunreagh, Ballynacaheragh, Milltown North, Boolaglass, Bullaun, Nantinan, Feeagh, Ardgoul South, Graigeen, Ballingarrane, Kyletaun and Rathkeale, of which the Lands Made Available (LMA) for archaeological testing totalled an area of 1,567,380m² (156.7ha). In total 2,625 test trenches were undertaken totalling 93,627 linear metres (185,175m²).

During the Stage (i)a, (i)c and (i)m testing, an initial 50 sites of archaeological interest were found. Subsequently one of these sites (Durnish 1) was deemed as being non-archaeological in nature and did not progress to Stage (ii) and (iii) excavations, leaving a total of 49 sites of archaeological interest. The sites of Ballycullen 4, Ballycullen 5 and Ballycullen 6 were fully excavated and archaeologically resolved in Stage (i) and consequently these sites also did not progress to Stages (ii) and (iii). Ballycullen 4 consisted of a stone trackway (37.5m x 2.35–2.52m x 0.2m) that is evident on the first-edition six-inch OS map (1842) leading to the site of vernacular cottages. Ballycullen 5 comprised the remnants of a possible mass path running roughly north–south parallel to Ballycullen 4, and measured 18m x 1.2–2m x 0.12m. Ballycullen 6 consisted of a possible metalled surface of small stones and pebbles compacted into the natural yellow boulder clay. It measured 7.5m north–south, 2.9m wide and 0.05m deep.

The archaeological sites recorded were:

Ardaneer 1: a single pit and a deposit, Ardaneer 2: a stone/earthen bank and a burnt deposit, Ballingarrane 1: a semi-circular enclosure ditch, Ballingarrane 2: a burnt spread, Ballingarrane 3: a large curving ditch, Ballingarrane 4: a possible ring-ditch, Ballycullen 1: a single pit, Ballycullen 2: a single pit, Ballycullen 3: a charcoal-production pit, Ballycullen 4: a possible stone trackway, Ballycullen 5: a possible mass path, Ballycullen 6: a possible metalled surface, Ballyclogh 1: a burnt spread, Ballyclogh 2: a burnt spread, Ballyclogh 3: a burnt spread, Ballyclogh 4: a possible lime kiln, Ballyellinan 1: a charcoal-production pit, Ballyellinan 2: a possible smelting pit and associated pit, Ballynacaheragh 1: a single pit, Ballynacaheragh 2: three pits and a dry stone well, Ballynacaheragh 3: a single pit,  Ballynacaheragh 4: two post-holes, Baunreagh 1: a burnt spread, Boolaglass 1: a burnt pit, Bullaun 1: a possible brick clamp, Bullaun 2: a lime kiln, Craggs 1: a charcoal-production pit, Graigeen 1: a burnt spread, Kyletaun 1: a burnt spread, Lismakeery 1: a burnt spread, Lismakeery 2: a metalworking pit and associated pit, Lismakeery 3: pits and a hearth, Lismakeery 4: a burnt spread, Mulderricksfield 1: a single pit, Mulderricksfield 2: three pits (two of which may be cremations), Mulderricksfield 3: a single pit, Rincullia 1: two cremation deposits and a pit, Rincullia 2: three cremation deposits, Rincullia 3: three pits, Rincullia 4: a burnt spread, Rincullia 5: a burnt mound, Rincullia 6: a burnt mound, Rincullia 7: a burnt spread, Robertstown 1: two burnt spreads, Robertstown 2: two large enclosures and associated features, Sroolane North 1: two burnt spreads, Sroolane North 2: a burnt spread, Sroolane North 3: a burnt spread and Sroolane North 4: a burnt spread. 

Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Surveys were carried out at six townland boundaries along the length of the scheme in Section A–C. Stage (i)f work comprised a desk-top assessment and archaeological investigation of the boundaries.

To assess the potential to recover archaeologically significant metal objects from topsoil at the locations of documented archaeological/cultural heritage sites in Section A–C, a metal detection device was used to scan the topsoil excavated from test trenches. A small assemblage of post-medieval metal artefacts was recovered from excavated topsoil in TE_C004, TE_C008 and TE_C023 during metal detecting.

Stage (iii) excavation of the identified sites will be carried out during 2025 and will each be outlined in their own excavation bulletin following completion.