County: Clare Site name: ENNIS: Francis Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RMP 33:82 Licence number: 00E0296
Author: Emer Dennehy, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 533484m, N 677689m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.846026, -8.987415
Test excavations were undertaken at this site prior to a grant of planning permission. Testing was requested because of the location of the proposed site within the zone of archaeological potential as identified for Ennis. In particular, the area of the proposed development is referred to as the ‘Causeway’. The Causeway ran over marshy, low-lying ground and linked the medieval settlement on the island of Ennis to the adjoining settlement of Clonroad. This thoroughfare also connected Ennis to centres such as Sixmilebridge and Tulla. In medieval times one of the two main entries to the town was via the Causeway. Two test-trenches were opened.
Trench 1 was located parallel to the proposed south-western wall and measured 3m north–south by 2m and 1.9m in depth. Five stratigraphic layers were identified. C1, 0.4m in depth, consisted of a pink/grey, sandy gravel. C2, 0.9m in depth, consisted of a mid-brown, silty clay. C3, 0.9m in depth, consisted of a dark brown peat deposit. C4, 0.22m in depth, consisted of mid-grey/brown silt. C5 was natural subsoil consisting of compact, grey/white clay.
Trench 2, located on the footprint of the proposed western boundary wall, measured 4.7m north–south by 1.5m with a maximum depth of 2.7m. Four stratigraphic layers were identified. C1, 0.4m in depth, consisted of a pink/grey, sandy gravel. C2, 0.2m in depth, consisted of a mid-brown, silty clay. C3, 2.1m in depth, consisted of a dark brown peat deposit. C4 was natural subsoil.
No artefacts or stratigraphy of an archaeological nature were identified.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
