County: Kildare Site name: CURRAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Carmel Duffi and Valerie Keeley
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 676234m, N 712331m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.156018, -6.860161
The construction of a horse bridge on the Curragh necessitated the investigation. Several flint artefacts including a hollow scraper had been recovered from the disturbed soil at one side of the circular feature. Excavation was recommended to establish the nature of the feature. It was formed by a circular bank with outer ditch measuring 20m in diameter. A causeway was present on the west. A section revealed that the bank had been simply formed by the material thrown up from the digging of the ditch. The causeway extended from the bank and spanned the ditch. Though some more fragments of flint were recovered from the soil, no features were found. A nail was recovered from a depression in the old ground surface. Several cartridge shells were also found. It is believed that the feature represents a military structure for gun placement. With regard to the flint artefacts, they may have been incorporated into the feature during its construction, or they may have been present in the general area and were then disturbed by construction.
Umberstown Great, Summerhill, Co. Meath and 29/30 Duke St., Athy, Co. Kildare
