2025:624 - Listellick South, Killeen, Garrane and Lisloose, Tralee, Kerry

Previous test trenching at the site under the same Licence Number (25E0207) in March 2025 had identified the remains of a burnt mound spread and six brick clamps within the development area (Rondelez 2025). Mitigations were agreed with the Kerry County Archaeologist for preservation in situ of these features identified during testing. Archaeological monitoring at the site was undertaken during the summer of 2025 under the same licence number.

During archaeological monitoring the remains of four potential archaeological features were identified. Topsoil comprised a mid-grey brown clayey silt with a minimum depth of 0.1m. Subsoil comprised a mid-brown silty clay. The four potential archaeological features identified comprised the remains of two brick clamps (F1 and F4), a small charcoal-rich deposit (F2) and a possible pit (F3). These are outlined below:

• Feature 1 (F1): Identified close to the eastern edge of the monitoring area. It measured 7m x 2.6m. It comprised a brick fragment-rich deposit with an orange and red brick layer visible overlaying a black charcoal layer. Fragments of fully fired bricks were also visible. F1 was interpreted as the northern extension of the brick clamp feature C13 identified in previous archaeological testing.
• Feature 2 (F2): Identified in close proximity to F1 and F3 in the south-eastern area of the site. It comprised a small charcoal-rich deposit and measured 1m long and 0.9m wide. It contained inclusions of charcoal/ash material. It may potentially relate to the late 19th-century brick clamp feature C13.
• Feature 3 (F3): Identified in close proximity to F2. It comprised a possible sub-oval pit with inclusions of medium angular/subangular heat-fired stones mixed in with a loose mid-grey brown silty clay fill. It measured 1.3m x 1.15m.
• Feature 4 (F4): Identified on the western part of the site. It comprised a brick fragment-rich deposit which was interpreted as the remains of a brick clamp. It measured 9m x 5m. F4 is interpreted to represent a western extension of the late 19th-century brick clamp C12 identified in the previous archaeological testing.

A modern stone drain running north-east/south-west was also noted in the south-west corner of the field. This drain was also identified during the previous archaeological testing at the site.

Following the completion of ground works at the site, mitigation measures for the preservation in situ of the four features identified were submitted and approved by
the Kerry County Archaeologist in August of 2025. These measures were in line with previous mitigations measures agreed for the preservation in situ of features identified during the archaeological testing phase. The mitigations included: Features F1–F3 to be included within a fenced-off 5m buffer zone around the brick clamp C013. Feature F4 was covered with Terram sheeting and covered over by a 1m high topsoil layer.

References

Rondelez, E 2025 Report on the Results of Archaeological Test Trenching at Listellick South, Killeen, Garrane, Lisloose, Tralee, Co. Kerry. Unpublished client report.