County: Meath Site name: RATOATH: Fairyhouse Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0721
Author: Clare Mullins
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 703091m, N 752647m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.513686, -6.445619
Testing was carried out at a site on Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Co. Meath, in August 2001. Ratoath was the centre of an important manor established by Hugh de Lacy prior to 1183. The street plan largely follows the curve formed by the motte. The name is derived from Rath To, ‘the fort of To’, which suggests that there was a settlement there before the coming of the Anglo-Normans.
Four test-trenches were inserted around the perimeter of the site, positioned both to give a representative cross-section of the stratigraphy on the site and to examine those locations to be most affected by the development. There was no evidence of either archaeological features or artefacts, nor was there any indication that archaeological strata have ever existed on the site. The general impression obtained from the examination of the test-trenches was of ground which had been extensively disturbed by earlier developments and through use as a garden area.
It was recommended that all works for road realignment along the northern and eastern boundaries of the site should be subject to monitoring.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
