2024:842 - Townparks, Birr, Offaly
County: Offaly
Site name: Townparks, Birr
Sites and Monuments Record No.: OF035-012
Licence number: 23E0917
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Author/Organisation Address: Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
Site type: Historic Town
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 605827m, N 704898m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.094636, -7.913002
A programme of Archaeological Monitoring of the foundation pits/trenches associated with the erection of six replacement electricity supply poles was undertaken at Birr (Townparks Td) Co. Offaly.
The replacement poles were positioned adjacent the existing pole structures and, generally, at varying distances from the extents of previously identified individual archaeological monuments, sites and features; Pole BH175 is located in the environs of the Prison Site (OF035-012012) and Pole BM503 is located in the environs of the Town Defences (OF035-012007).
The works were located within pavements/footpaths along Moorpark Street, High Street and Rosse Row and within street surface areas of Fayle’s Lane and Cornmarket Street.
The surface dimensions of the trenches varied in size and terminated at depths of 1.6m (Steel Pole) or 1.9m (Timber Pole).
No subsurface features of archaeological interest or potential were uncovered by the excavations; likewise, no artefacts of archaeological or historical interest were recovered.