1993:205 - CLONMEL: No. 9 Joyce's Lane, Irishtown, Tipperary

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tipperary Site name: CLONMEL: No. 9 Joyce's Lane, Irishtown

Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 83:19 Licence number: 93E0020

Author: Mary Henry

Site type: Structure and Well

Period/Dating: Undetermined

ITM: E 620145m, N 622350m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.352375, -7.704280

Monitoring of the digging of foundations was carried out on the site during early April 1993.

The site is located in the southern part of Irishtown, Clonmel. Irishtown is situated immediately to the west of the western perimeter of the medieval walled town. Although the site was outside the medieval walled town, it was of possible archaeological significance. Documentary records (Civil Survey, 1654-1656) indicate that there was a post-medieval settlement in this part of Clonmel. As for its existence prior to the post-medieval period, there are no direct references to this suburb in medieval documents. Bradley (1985) suggests that the possibility of an earlier settlement should not be ruled out, however, because of the reference in the Ormond Deeds (1413-1509) to a messuage outside the West Gate.

An area along the perimeter of the site, 1m in width, was excavated to a depth of 1m. Approximately 0.6m of the overburden was removed from the remainder of the site.

No significant archaeological layers were encountered.

However, some structures were uncovered. An underground chamber extended across the width of the site. The chamber was built of red brick and measured 7.6m x 4.2m. It was divided into two sections. A thin band of impervious yellow clay sealed the outside of the chamber.

A well was also uncovered. The well, of circular shape, had an internal diameter of 0.9m and extended to at least a depth of 2m.

The artefacts found on the site included broken clay pipes, a small quantity of animal bone and sherds of pottery dating to the early-modern period. A large number of broken tiles of 20th-century date was found on the site.

There were no archaeological deposits or features that may be conclusively associated with the post-medieval suburb referred to in the Civil Survey of 1654-1656.

34 Queens St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary