2002:1071 - ADAMSWOOD/CROAGH/BALLYCANNON, Limerick

Croagh Sewerage Scheme, processed under Part X of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations 1994, is situated in the townlands of Adamswood, Croagh and Ballycannon and extends through the area of the historical town of Croagh. The works consist of the construction of c. 2000m of foul sewers, a sewage treatment plant and a treated effluent outfall, discharging to the Greanagh stream. Dúchas recommended that all groundworks be monitored. Topsoil-stripping in the greenfield section began on 4 July 2002 and was largely completed by 19 July. Eight burnt spreads were revealed in the wayleave corridor. The first spread (7.2m east–west by 6.4m) was situated at the south of the wayleave, and it was possible for trenching works to avoid it. It was recorded and protected with a geotextile material. A large fragment of a stone axe was recovered c. 45m to the east of it. The remaining seven burnt spreads were directly in the line of the pipe, and excavation was deemed necessary (see Nos 1066 and 1067, Excavations 2002, 02E1213 and 02E1214).

Work in the village began on 28 August 2002 and is continuing. A trench, 2m wide and 3.1m deep, has been excavated through the western end of the village. Pits and layers were recorded in both sections of the initial 101m of the east–west trench and 4.8m of the north–south trench. The pits measured a minimum of 0.8m north–south and 0.8m deep to a maximum of 3.55m east–west and 1.4m deep. They were cut into boulder clay and occasionally bedrock. The fill consisted mainly of brown silty clay with charcoal flecks, animal bones and small to medium-sized stones. Elsewhere the road fill and foundation overlay the natural boulder clay.