2002:1219 - LIMERICK: Long Lane/Sir Harry’s Mall, King’s Island, Limerick

Testing was carried out before a proposed development on a parcel of land, 0.21ha, bounded by Long Lane, Sir Harry’s Mall and the Northern Relief Road. The site is at the south-eastern corner of the medieval walled town and straddles the wall in the location of Fish Lane Gate. The surrounding area has been subject to several archaeological investigations, including those by Ken Hanley (Excavations 1997, No. 351, 96E0334) and Celie O Rahilly (Excavations 1996, No. 249, 96E0213, and Excavations 1999, No. 522, 99E0433).

Three trenches, up to 7m long and 2.2m deep, were mechanically excavated. A large number of walls were uncovered, mostly of limestone construction but including some brick. Several phases of building were evident.

The earliest evidence was found in the base of at least two of the trenches, although the water table prevented detailed investigation. These lengths of masonry both appeared to be aligned on the previously identified medieval town wall and were probably the upper surface of the remaining foundations of this wall. Thick deposits of clay covered and abutted this masonry, probably foundation layers for the Sir Harry’s Mall terraces, which were constructed in the late 18th century after the demolition of this section of the town wall. The medieval gate was not positively identified, but the evidence suggests that the previously proposed location is likely to be correct.

Part of a massive structure with battered walls was also uncovered, on the southern side of the Fish Lane Gate, immediately outside the medieval town wall. The masonry had a defensive appearance and was possibly part of a previously unknown 17th-century gate structure. A northern counterpart had been exposed in an earlier investigation but had not been identified as defensive. The buildings had apparently been incorporated in the Georgian terrace either side of the gate. Foundations for these houses were recorded in all three trenches, conforming to previously revealed plans, and an assemblage of 18th- and 19th-century ceramic material was recovered from the demolition rubble surrounding the masonry.

The remaining walls and a brick culvert were probably of 19th-/20th-century date and related to the structures that stood on the site until they were demolished before the construction of the Northern Relief Road in the 1990s.

Further investigations, including excavation of a wider area and documentary research to identify the defensive structures, were recommended.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin