1998:384 - BALLYGRENNAN, Limerick

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Limerick Site name: BALLYGRENNAN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 5:39 Licence number: 98E0321

Author: Celie O Rahilly, Limerick Corporation

Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous

Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)

ITM: E 555160m, N 659043m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.680689, -8.663126

The site, on the north-eastern side of the Old Cratloe Road, was bordered to the south-east by Galtee Avenue, originally a road leading to a farm, now defining the western limits of a housing estate. To the north-western side it was defined by the townland boundary, and to the north-eastern by a field boundary. On the earlier maps there was a north-east by south-west subdivision of the field. The eastern field was slightly elevated; the western one, low-lying and prone to flooding, was, along the western and northern boundaries, permanently marshy. A possible settlement (Down Survey maps) was marked partly on this side of the western boundary.

The topsoil-stripping of the area of the proposed development was monitored. With the exception of a localised spread of burnt stone and a pit/ditch, which it was not possible to date, there was no trace of any activity pre-19th century, and this consisted mainly of attempts to drain the land. The area where the 'possible settlement' was allegedly situated was particularly prone to flooding. The level ground on this part of the site, together with the high level of the impermeable clay, has resulted in a total lack of natural soakage. If there had been a settlement it is more likely that it was either on the higher ground to the east or outside the area of the proposed development, i.e. to the west or south.

City Hall, Limerick