2000:0060 - CLONLEA, Clare

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Clare Site name: CLONLEA

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0670

Author: Fiona Rooney, Arch. Consultancy Ltd.

Site type: Water mill - horizontal-wheeled

Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)

ITM: E 550047m, N 673169m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.807194, -8.740881

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping on the Kilkishen Sewerage Scheme uncovered the remains of the water channel and wheelhouse of a horizontal mill constructed of oak timbers. The wheelhouse was close to the shores of Clonlea Lough, east of Kilkishen town in County Clare. Funding for the excavation project was provided by Clare County Council.

All that survived of the wheelhouse was the supporting beam and three floor beams. The supporting beam was c. 2.23m wide and abutted a north-west/south-east-running water channel. A recess was cut into the upper edge to house the fore-end of a chute. Samples of the wood sent to Queen’s University Belfast for dendrochronological dating gave an estimated felling date of the supporting beam of AD 914±10 (QUB Ref. No. Q10047).

The discovery of the mill is quite significant owing to its proximity to Clonlea Church. The church appears to be 15th century; however, an association with St Seananus indicates that there may have been an early ecclesiastical site at this location.

Subsequent topsoil-stripping in the area of the new treatment works site revealed no further finds/features of archaeological significance.

Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway