2003:561 - DUBLIN: ESB Substation, O’Connell Street Lower, Dublin

Ongoing monitoring of the Luas works identified archaeological deposits at the site of the ESB substation (30.3m north–south by 8m) in the central median of O’Connell Street, between the statues of William Smith O’Brien and Daniel O’Connell. A two-week excavation revealed a series of structural elements indicative of late 17th- and 18th-century development in this area. The excavation was characterised by three phases.

The construction of the quay wall, previously unrecorded, was aligned east–west. It measured 1.8m in width and survived to five courses (0.9m high). It was constructed from two distinct walls, with a sand-and-rubble core, which yielded post-medieval pottery and by-products from glass-making.

Located north of the quay wall were reclamation deposits, a structure and associated well. An engraved glass bottle seal retrieved from the construction phase of the well dates this activity to post-1711. The riverine deposits were overlain by a metalled surface, upon which the structure was constructed. The structure, which was truncated by the northern and eastern limit of the excavation, measured 5m east–west by 2.35m. The walls were 0.57–0.7m in width and survived from two to five courses in height. A subcircular stone well (1.68m in diameter) located at the south-west corner of the structure appears to be contemporary.

To the south of the quay wall were the natural river deposits of the Liffey. Cut into these was an east–west wall and a north–south wall (11m long, 0.47–0.66m wide, 0.14–0.27m high) with rounded terminal. Given its morphology, it is possible to interpret this structure as a jetty or pier. Cartographic analysis indicates that it must pre-date Brooking’s map of 1728.

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