County: Westmeath Site name: MULLINGAR: Butler's Lounge, Pearse Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0143
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 643745m, N 753118m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.526206, -7.340245
A watching brief was carried out at the site from 23 to 26 April in compliance with a condition of planning. The site is located on the eastern side of the junction formed by Pearse Street and Spout Well Lane. The front section of the property is occupied by Butler’s Lounge licensed premises, which fronts onto Pearse Street, with the area of development located to the rear. The site is situated within the area of archaeological potential for Mullingar as defined by the Urban Archaeological Survey.
All reductions in ground surface levels and the excavation of foundation trenches were monitored. No features or structures of archaeological interest were uncovered during the course of this work. However, seven sherds of post-medieval pottery and 28 clay pipe fragments, tentatively dated to the early 18th century, were recovered from the surface of a peaty material which was uncovered across the entire development area. The general wet and soft nature of this material may have mitigated against settlement in this area in antiquity, and the generally undisturbed nature of the material would suggest that if settlement had occurred it was confined to the area along the street frontage.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
