2026:062 - Lyre, Enniscorthy, Wexford

Archaeological test-excavations were carried out as part of an AIA in relation to a proposed residential housing development at Lyre, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford,

Prior to testing, the site was subjected to a detailed geophysical Magnetometry survey carried out by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. in January 2026 under survey licence no. 25R0522. The geophysical survey identified multiple potential archaeological features; primarily in the form of possible pit-type features.

Testing comprised the excavation of twenty-six targeted test-trenches. The test-trenches were focused primarily on those anomalies identified as potential archaeology in the geophysical survey data

The excavated test-trenches were c. 1.8m in width and varied in length from 25–80m, with a maximum depth of 0.14–0.41m. The general stratigraphy comprised a topsoil layer of light grey/brown silty sand with occasional small sub-rounded stones, overlying subsoil which varied from yellow-grey sandy silt to orange-brown, moderately compact silty clay.

Six of the excavated test-trenches (Trenches 1, 7, 13, 15, 16 & 20) produced evidence of archaeological activity, with a total of seven archaeological features being identified. The identified features comprised an area of scorched clay (Feature 1) in Trench 1, a large pit, possibly a kiln (Feature 2) in Trench 7, a pit (Feature 3) in Trench 13, two pits (Features 4 & 5) in Trench 15, an area of scorched clay (Feature 6) in Trench 16, and a possible pit (Feature 7) in Trench 20.