County: Tipperary Site name: CARRICK-ON-SUIR FLOOD RELIEF, Pumping Station 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0975
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 639591m, N 621750m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.345924, -7.418920
As part of the Flood Relief Scheme currently under way in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, the OPW has proposed to install a number of pumping stations along the banks of the River Suir. These stations average 5m by 6m and are set approximately 4m into the present ground surface. Following specifications outlined by Dúchas, requesting that areas being disturbed by such development should undergo testing, a test excavation was carried out in the proposed location of Pumping Station No. 3, which is within an area known to have once contained a boat-building/repair site.
The test-trench was excavated to a depth of 2m below present ground surface, at which point it began to fill with both spring and river water. Any sediments below this level were not visible. Six layers were recorded during the excavation of the trench, all of 20th-century date. The rudder of a large vessel, possibly a barge or sand boat, was discovered towards the eastern side of the trench. The rudder could potentially have belonged to any number of vessels damaged while navigating the River Suir. A stone platform uncovered at the base of the trench may have served as a mooring point or a surface upon which boat repairs took place.
Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
