2000:0910 - BALLINA, Tipperary

The first phase of a four-phase development project was monitored in August 2000. The monitoring involved the observation of topsoil-stripping for part of a 26-acre housing development in the vicinity of Cloghaneena Castle at Ballina, Co. Tipperary. The site is located on a low hill south of the Arra Mountains, overlooking the River Shannon to the west. This work was carried out after a geophysical survey by GeoArch and an environmental impact statement by Celie O Rahilly.

The stratigraphy of the area that was stripped consisted of a layer of dark brown, silty clay topsoil between 0.15m and 0.3m in depth. A moderate amount of modern pottery and glass was recovered from the topsoil. The topsoil overlay a mid-reddish-brown boulder clay. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during excavation works at the site. It is anticipated that the next phase of development will be undertaken sometime in 2001.