2026:190 - St Mary's Laneway, Gardens, Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Archaeological monitoring of a water main took place as part of preparatory works for the overall repaving scheme at St Mary’s Lane, Kilkenny City. The works are located within the historic urban core of Kilkenny City, along a lane which runs around the former St Mary’s Church (KK019-026115—), approximately 50m to the northeast of the River Nore. St Mary’s Lane lies within the zone of archaeological potential for Kilkenny, to the rear of Parliament Street. It runs alongside the southern, western and northern sides of the boundary wall of St Mary’s Church and graveyard.

Monitoring was undertaken between 8 and 11 June 2026. The pipeline route was cut out by consaw and cobbling removed by hand/hammer drill. Subsequent excavation work was completed by hand and by a mini digger under supervision of the writer.

In general, the stratigraphy comprised a modern cobblelock and a small section of an earlier cobbled surface overlying made ground varying in composition from gravelly clay to sand with fragments of brick and mortar. The trench was generally excavated to 300-450mm Below modern Ground Level and generally 300-400mm in width. At the southern limit where the watermain was connected to an existing water service duct a squared section to facilitate the connection was extended to a depth of roughly 800mm. The trench followed the line of an earlier pre-existing 100mm PVC Service pipe which was present throughout the works. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of the works.