2002:0643 - PHROMPSTOWN 1, Dublin

Testing was undertaken at a ringfort site in the townland of Phrompstown, Co. Dublin, on 8 July 2002 as part of the preparation of an environmental impact statement for the proposed new Dún Laoghaire Golf-Course.

The site is marked as a large, circular enclosure on the first-edition OS 6-inch map, which also indicates some possible internal divisions. It is not marked on the second-edition map of 1937.

A section of the enclosing bank appears to be incorporated in the field boundary that forms the northern edge of the development site. This appears as a kink in the line of the field boundary. There are no other visible traces of this site on the ground.
Two trenches were excavated in an attempt to uncover the external enclosing fosse of the site.

Two features were intercepted, one in each trench. Both features appeared as a soil matrix different from that of the subsoil. The surfaces of these features were up to 0.15m below present ground level. The feature in Trench 1 was up to 2m wide and consisted of a loose, dark brown, silty clay. There were a number of small to medium-sized stones set into the soil. The feature in Trench 2 was up to 1.5m wide and consisted of a moderately loose, medium brown, gravelly clay. There were a few small stones set into this material. The nature of the features uncovered in the test-trenches is indicative of fill material. It is likely that they represent a backfilled fosse associated with the outermost external element of the site. When the locations of the features are considered in conjunction with the existing kink in the field boundary, an oval enclosure (c. 60m east–west by c. 75m) can be plotted.

After discussions with Dúchas, an appropriate preservation strategy was agreed with regard to the site.

31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare