County: Offaly Site name: BIRR: Church Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0758
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 620745m, N 620551m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.336178, -7.695586
Test-trenching was undertaken at the request of the client in order to satisfy planning requirements prior to development. This derelict site, lying within Birr’s zone of archaeological potential, was fronted by the façades of a number of houses. Documentary research demonstrated that Church Street had been occupied by standing houses since at least the 17th century while also suggesting that the route may have been a relict of the early medieval enclosure of St Brendan’s ecclesiastical settlement. On this site the client wished to construct three townhouses while retaining the façades of the original structures. The maximum depth of construction activity was 0.6m, while the ground level was to be raised by 0.1m.
Four test-trenches were opened to a depth of 0.8m. These were located in the north-west and north-east corners, on a north–south axis, and along the southern foundation line. The deposits uncovered in these trenches were modern, and to this extent development would not have had a negative impact on any archaeological deposits. However, given the possibility of archaeological disturbance during the connection of service facilities, it was recommended that such work be monitored by a qualified archaeologist.
Ballytrisnane, Old Parish, Co. Waterford
