County: Limerick Site name: BOHERYGEELA (BGE)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Margaret Gowen
Site type: Road - road/trackway
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 558859m, N 639047m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.501270, -8.605940
This long, straight stretch of road, not recorded on any edition of the OS, was revealed in aerial photography. It is also clearly visible on the ground. It is one of a network of now unused roads which exist in the Meanus/Caherguillamore area (pers. comm. Eoin Grogan). This road leads to the site of the medieval church of Meanus and is still referred to as the 'Mass Path'.
The pipeline crossed the road at a point where it is disturbed. The remains elsewhere display a profile not unlike that of the 'Cladh na Leac' at Lough Gur with a low bank and ditch on either side.
Two cuttings were opened. Excavation revealed a partly truncated, uneven metalled surface of angular limestone pebbles 10-15cm in size. The two ditches on either side are likely to be contemporary with the surface even though upcast from them had spread over it. Ridge and furrow cultivation which clearly cuts across the roadway end is said locally to date to the Famine period was not represented in the cuttings opened. Two sherds of post-medieval pottery and a clay pipe may date to this period. There were no modern finds.
An unusual stray find recovered from the thin topsoil was a large (54mm X 33mm x 6mm) laurel-leaf shaped knife.
5 St Catherine's Rd, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
