1992:170 - NENAGH: 45 Pearse St, Tipperary

At the request of the developer, the undersigned monitored excavation on this site during the week 30th March–3rd April. The site is being redeveloped as an extension for an existing supermarket and the work involved dropping the level of the site by c. 1m to match that in the adjacent store. The property backs onto the gate-tower of Nenagh Castle and planning permission required, amongst other conditions, that a 5m wide band be left around the castle. The rest of the site, which was of potential archaeological interest, was excavated down to the required level by mechanical digger. No features or remains of archaeological interest were encountered. The existing floors etc. all rested directly on the natural subsoil and it was clear that the whole site had previously been lowered removing all stratified deposits. A comparison of ground levels on either side of the north-west boundary wall showed the area in the gateway to be c. 2m higher than on site. The tower, despite being defaced, also shows a change c. 1 .7m above the present ground level which may mark the transition from facing stone to foundations.

At the west end of the site, the excavated area clipped the very edge of a feature which lay for the most part within the 5m band around the tower. This feature measured c. 2.75m across, had almost vertical sides and was filled with redeposited grey subsoil. The purpose of the feature and its depth are unknown but judging from the angle at which the sides ran into the section, it is unlikely to be associated with the castle (e.g. a moat). A fragment of red brick was noted in the upper fill which suggests that the feature is of no great antiquity. A number of other features were cut into the subsoil but these were service trenches, foundations and a soak away (?) of recent date.

No finds were retained from the site. All the features on the site are of 19th-century or later date. No further publication is planned.

Gouig, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick