2001:239 - ESB UPGRADING PROGRAMME, Youghal, Cork

Contractors working on behalf of the Electricity Supply Board laid cable ducting along several streets in Youghal as part of an upgrading programme. On O’Rahilly Street ducting was laid from the substation eastwards, continuing southwards along Market Place. Approximately 20m from the eastern end of O’Rahilly Street is the suspected north–south line of the town wall and the site of a tower, possibly associated with the original Watergate. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted, however, as the trench was excavated through previously disturbed layers and imported sediments used in land reclamation.

Further work was conducted along South Cross Lane and Ashe Street outside Basetown. A mill building is shown on 18th-century maps at the southern end of South Cross Lane, but no physical evidence of this was encountered during trenching.

Work along South Main Street from O’Rahilly Street to Taylor’s Lane revealed the presence of three stone-built culverts crossing South Main Street diagonally and running beneath Mall Lane towards the Quay. They were covered in steel plates and preserved in situ.

At either end of O’Neill-Crowley Street a wall was observed aligned north-north-east/south-south-west along the centre of the road. At the Main Street end it was a mere 0.2m below the road surface, whereas at the Catherine Street end it was only evident at a depth of 0.75m below the tarmac. Constructed of large tabular blocks of local stone, it measured approximately 1.5m (5ft) in thickness and had a depth in excess of 1m. A pottery strap handle and decorated body sherd were recovered from the fabric of the wall, which will help to date it accurately.

Work is ongoing within and without the town walls, and is due for completion in June 2002.

Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford