County: Kildare Site name: BLACKHALL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 24:11 Licence number: 00E0118
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 692625m, N 716092m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.187213, -6.614062
Testing was undertaken at a development site located at Blackhall, Punchestown, Co. Kildare, on 12 February 2000. The work was undertaken in compliance with a request for additional information in respect of a proposed housing development. The development site lies to the north-west of a ruined tower-house (Blackhall Castle, SMR 24:11).
No features, structures or deposits of archaeological interest were uncovered during the course of the evaluation, although four pottery sherds of medieval/post-medieval date were recovered. Given the relative paucity of pottery when compared with the amount of testing, combined with the absence of any other material of interest, it was suggested that no further archaeological involvement was required at the housing development site.
It is also proposed to lay a water supply pipeline from Punchestown Racecourse to the development site, a total of c. 1530m. This particular proposal was not subjected to archaeological testing, as it was not originally part of the overall planning application. The proposed water supply pipeline runs in proximity to three sites of archaeological interest. Much of this line will run in greenfield areas undisturbed by modern development, and it was suggested that specific lengths of the route should be subjected to archaeological monitoring if the proposal is granted planning permission.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
