2026:146 - Martinstown, Killmallock, Limerick
County: Limerick
Site name: Martinstown, Killmallock
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 25E0496
Author: Magda Lyne, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth. A92 DH99.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 567233m, N 628033m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.402838, -8.481532
The site at Martinstown, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, located on the lands of Martinstown Stud, was subject to archaeological investigations, including test trenching and monitoring. Test trenching was carried out at the pre-planning stage in 2025, under licence 25E0496, by the author. Four trenches were excavated within the south-east field, and no features of archaeological significance were exposed; however, agricultural furrows, modern linear drains and possible former field boundaries were
uncovered.
Monitoring was carried out in May 2026 in response to the condition attached to the grant of permission by Limerick County Council for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system and associated site works. The monitoring included the excavation of trenches for underground electrical cables and connection to the existing residential electricity supply, as well as a lightning protection trench around the perimeter of the solar panels. Cable trench depths varied between 0.45m and 1m, and were 0.2m and 1m wide, respectively. Made ground was encountered up to a depth of 1m. Natural was exposed within the south-east field at a depth of 0.3-0.45m.
The monitoring results suggest that the north-west portion of the site consists of land subject to previous groundworks; this is also apparent from the examination of the 2006 aerial imagery, which shows material introduced to raise the ground level. The yard and the south-east field are on lower ground in comparison.
No features of archaeological significance were uncovered. The work is now complete.