2025:659 - KILGROVAN, CLONEA STRAND ROAD, Dungarvan, Waterford

In advance of a proposed holiday park development, IAC Archaeology undertook archaeological testing at this site. This took place over the course of 5 five days in December 2025.

The trenches targeted geophysical anomalies and open green space in order to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site. Testing revealed six areas of archaeological significance, which have been designated as Archaeological Areas 1-6 (AA1–6). These comprise a total of 20 archaeological features consisting of 13 possible kilns, 4 pits, 1 spread and a possible ring-ditch defined by two curvilinear ditch segments. Human remains were identified within the fill of the ditch in AA3. Archaeological monitoring was also undertaken of excavation for soakaway tests, trial pits and dynamic probing. No finds or features of archaeological significance were uncovered during these works. Metal detection of displaced soils did not recover any artefacts or finds.

Testing has identified archaeological remains within the eastern perimeter of the proposed development area, designated as AA1 and AA2, which likely correspond with previously recorded kilns (WA031-045010, -045011 and -045013). No evidence was found for kiln WA031-045012, although it likely exists beyond the limit of the test trenches.

The location of a further recorded kiln, WA031-045014, in the northern limit of site was not investigated at this time as it was located within the exclusion zone for overhead power lines, however a feature was identified to the immediate northwest, designated as AA6.

It is possible that further small-scale archaeological remains associated with the recorded church and ecclesiastic site may exist beneath the current ground surface outside the footprint of the excavated test trenches.