County: Limerick Site name: BALLYVOLLANE/PROSPECT/NEWGARDEN NORTH/HERMITAGE/STRADBALLY NORTH/COOLREIRY/DERREEN/LACKA/COOLBANE/CLOON/COMMONS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0416
Author: Sarah McCutcheon, Limerick County Council
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 563698m, N 659442m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.684913, -8.536907
Castleconnell Sewerage Scheme works include 850m of 200mm (diameter) rising main; 6100m of 250mm rising main; 5300m of 200mm water main; 4326m of 225mm sewer; 3000m of 300mm sewer; 483m of 450mm sewer; and 170m of 525mm sewer.
The works are largely centred on the road network of the village of Castleconnell, which is contained in the townlands of Cloon, Commons and Coolbane and the surrounding townlands of (north to south) Lacka, Derreen, Coolreiry and Stradbally North. The 250mm-diameter rising main continues south-westwards along the bank of the River Shannon through the townlands of Ballyvollane, Prospect, Newgarden North, Hermitage and Castletroy.
Topsoil-stripping through the greenfield areas in Ballyvollane, Prospect, Newgarden North, Hermitage, Stradbally, North, Coolreiry, Derreen and Lacka began in May and was completed in August. The remains of a burnt spread were uncovered behind the primary school in Coolreiry. It was possible for the trenching works to avoid the spread and when it had been recorded it was protected with geotextile material. The work is now centred on the townlands of Coolbane, Cloon and Commons in Castleconnell village.
Advance testing also took place in the townlands of Hermitage (01E0319), Prospect (01E0317) and Stradbally North (01E0318) (see Excavations 2001, Nos 762, 793 and 803).
Apart from this, no other archaeological remains have been uncovered during the course of the works to date.
PO Box 53, County Buildings, 79/84 O’Connell Street, Limerick
