County: Limerick Site name: OLD ABBEY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 19:100 Licence number: 99E0667
Author: Emer Dennehy, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 527516m, N 647092m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.570297, -9.069265
Test excavations took place before the grant of outline planning permission for the construction of two dwelling-houses. The proposed development in the townland of Old Abbey is immediately adjacent to Kilmoylan Church and graveyard. The proposed development site is on the summit of a low hill commanding extensive views of the surrounding undulating pastureland, with Foynes town and Aughinish Island clearly visible to the north.
Three test-trenches were excavated; two on the footprint of the proposed house foundations and one in the vicinity of the percolation areas. Trench 1 was at the north-east corner of House 1. It was L-shaped in plan and measured 5m north-east/south-west by 10m, with an average width of 1.5m. Trench 2 was at the south-west corner of House 2. It was L-shaped in plan and measured 5m north-east/south-west by 10m north-west/south-east, with an average width of 1.5m. Trench 3 was linear in plan and incorporated the two percolation areas to the east of Houses 1 and 2. It measured 30m north-south and had an average width of 1m.
In all trenches topsoil was removed to an average depth of 0.25m, exposing a light yellow/brown, compact clay subsoil. No stratigraphy or artefacts of an archaeological nature were identified while monitoring the ground disturbance activities.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
