1998:393 - TRACK OF CROMWELL'S ROAD, Castleconnell, Limerick

Testing was carried out on the 'Track of Cromwell's Road', Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, in advance of gasworks from Limerick to Ballina, Co. Tipperary, via Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. The road name appears to derive from the activities of General Ireton (Cromwell's son-in-law) in 1651.

Two test-trenches, A (1m x 4m) and B (1m x 5m), were tested to a depth of 1m and revealed a similar stratigraphic sequence but no finds. At c. 0.47m below the modern road surface iron panning occurred over a compacted, sandy clay surface. This may represent an original dirt track or road. If this was a dirt track there is no evidence that it was manipulated or altered in any way but was merely used as a routeway. The underlying strata appeared to be sterile natural deposits. The first road surfacing occurred with the insertion of a crude layer of cobbling or metalling, set into a bed of fine sand, probably in the 19th/20th century. Above this was a series of modern tarmac road surfaces. The gas pipeline was monitored through the rest of the roadway (although some areas were drilled), which revealed a similar array of sterile clays.

If this was the route taken by Ireton's forces their presence appears to have been marked by name only.

44 Eaton Heights, Cobh, Co. Cork