County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: Ship Street (Phase V)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0093 ext.
Author: Helen Kehoe, c/o Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 715326m, N 733726m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.341185, -6.268167
A fourth phase of archaeological testing was carried out on a development site bounded by Ship Street Great and Stephens Street, Dublin 2, between 21 and 23 September 1998. Twelve mechanically excavated trenches were opened during the three phases of testing, ten by Linzi Simpson in 1996 (Phases I and II, Excavations 1996, 30–1, 96E170) and two by this writer, completed in April 1997 (Phase III, Excavations 1997, 51–2).
The fourth phase involved the mechanical excavation of two trenches (14 and 15) extending east-west from the Ship Street Great frontage. The stratigraphy of both trenches was similar to the overall ground profile established in the previous phases of testing. Deep rubble and cellar remains were uncovered along the street frontage, overlying a uniform, yellow clay over stony natural. In Trench 15 a section of a red brick culvert was revealed, orientated north-south, uncovered 9m eastwards along the trench. It was 3.5m wide and 2m deep, set on a two-course blackstone foundation on either side of the red brick arch. There were no archaeological remains revealed in either trench.
Excavations carried out by Kieran Campbell in 1981 (JIA V, 1989–90, 74) immediately north of the site under review revealed the remains of the church and round tower belfry of St Michael le Pole and associated burial-ground. While the burial area appeared to extend southwards into the adjoining property, there was no evidence of any burials in the portion of the site under review.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
