County: Kilkenny Site name: RIVER NORE, Kilkenny
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0909
Author: Ian W. Doyle for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 650609m, N 656413m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.656545, -7.251958
A key element of the Flood Alleviation Scheme is the dredging and widening of the River Nore at Kilkenny City. This entails the construction of a haul-road or driving track on either side of the river from which material can be dredged and removed from the bed. The haul-road also serves as a level platform from which sheet pile walls can be erected to form new flood defence walls.
Given the well-attested archaeological content of Irish river gravels, it has been essential to maintain an archaeological presence during the creation of the haul-roads in Kilkenny. At the time of writing (late February 2002) the haul-road on the west bank from Canal Bank Walk to the downstream side of John’s Bridge has been completed. A second haul-road has been completed on the east bank from the upstream side of John’s Bridge to the Peace Park at John’s Quay. An archaeological presence was maintained on the haul-road during construction. This consisted of archaeologists watching the dredging of river gravels and the dispersal of the gravels onto a level surface. Washing of the river gravels by pump or with water from the machine bucket improved visibility.
To date approximately 1100 artefacts have been recovered. Initial processing of this material indicates that 60% is composed of ceramics, 30% metal objects, and 10% clay pipes, glass etc. Very little prehistoric material has been recognised to date, apart from a flint flake at John’s Bridge and a possible stone axe from near Ormond Mills. Other objects recovered from the river included an iron sword, a dagger, a cannon ball, two human skull fragments, two flintlock pistols, a pike, medieval pottery, and an important collection of medieval cut stone fragments. A concentration of cut stone was recovered in the stretch of the river beside the castle. An odd feature of the river in Kilkenny is the presence of hand-grenades (Mills Bomb types) and rounds of live .303 ammunition.
The haul-road on the east bank (adjacent to the Rivercourt Hotel) and the haul-road on the west bank upstream of John’s Bridge (along Bateman Quay and the Guinness Brewery) remain to be completed during 2002. This, and any other work, will require monitoring. Additional dredging and the ultimate removal of the river gravels which make up the haul-roads will also require monitoring and detailed examination.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
