County: Limerick Site name: LIMERICK: Widows' Alms Houses, Nicholas Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 98E0047
Author: Kenneth Wiggins
Site type: Graveyard
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 557659m, N 657843m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.670108, -8.626010
This site lies along the southern side of the Castle Lane development next to King John's Castle. The alms houses were built in the 19th century in the former grounds of St Nicholas's parish church, which was demolished in the second half of the 17th century. The Castle Lane architectural consultants, Murray Ó Laoire Associates, suggested that a combined gas/ESB service trench be dug on the site as part of the groundwork in connection with the construction of Castle Lane. Approval to dig the trench was granted by Limerick Corporation, owners of the alms-house terrace. Work began without archaeological consultation in the garden nearest Nicholas Street on 9 January 1998 but was quickly suspended when some human bone remains were uncovered, denoting the presence of burials relating to the graveyard of the church.
Following this discovery arrangements were made to have the digging of the trench archaeologically monitored. However, owing to objections from the residents and other problems, the contractor opted to lay the services along the southern side of the Castle Lane site itself. Therefore the limited area already disturbed at the eastern end of the garden was backfilled and no further work on the site took place.
17 Vartry Close, Raheen, Co. Limerick
