2003:2333 - TRALEE: Dominick Street, Kerry

Monitoring of trenching associated with the laying of a new water pipe was undertaken in the Dominick Street and Square area of Tralee town centre on behalf of Tralee Town Council. The linear trench was, on average, 1m in width and up to 1.5m deep and extended along the entire southern and western limits of the Square and along the entirety of Dominick Street, terminating at the junction of Bridge Street.

Monitoring commenced at the south-east corner of the Square, revealing well-laid sandstone cobbling beneath the current road surface. The cobbling was of local beach-rolled sandstone with a heavily worn surface and was evident throughout all of the trenching works in the Square area. The cobbling in the south-east limits of the Square overlay a loose stony fill which in turn overlay a black organic layer that extended for approximately 12m. A small quantity of leather off-cuts and a brass-headed pin were recovered.

Monitoring in the north-west limits of the Square where it exits into Bridge Street revealed a basal section of walling, 0.5m in height, that extended for c. 3.5m and was at least 1.2m wide, although its full width could not be ascertained as it extended under the western baulk of the trench and therefore under the current pavement, which was not disturbed. Following its discovery, the trench was widened eastwards to preserve the wall and facilitate the insertion of the pipe. The wall was constructed with random rubble limestone, nicely coursed and bonded with a gravelly mortar. The wall had a nice return on its northern end, where the Square connects with Bridge Street. No artefacts were found in association with this wall but its size and morphology suggest a medieval date.

A small section of another wall was also recorded in the eastern limits of Dominick Street, where it connects with the Square. This wall was diagonally disposed across the trench and was in poor condition with very little surviving. However, its acute northeast/ south-west orientation has no relation to the 18th–19th-century street pattern in the area and must therefore be earlier.

Trenching along Dominick Street was undertaken along its northern side and abutting the pavement. Excavations revealed coherent masonry that extended for most of the northern baulk of the trench. The masonry or walling had been severely impacted on in the past from multiple services, repairs and other works. It is possible that the walling related to the canalising of the Gabhal River in this area, as the uppermost courses appeared to be outwardly disposed. The Gabhal or Gyle River flowed along Bridge Street and may also have extended along Dominick Street.

3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry