County: Dublin Site name: CASTLEKNOCK: Phoenix Park Racecourse
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1682
Author: Patricia Lynch, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 710260m, N 737394m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.375217, -6.342927
The site, in the grounds of the former Phoenix Park Racecourse, consists of c. 45.8ha and is located on both sides of the Navan Road. An Bord Plean‡la has granted planning permission for a development incorporating 2314 dwellings as well as retail/commercial premises, childcare facilities, parking and associated services. This first phase is scheduled to take place over the next five to ten years, with groundworks and topsoil-stripping taking place on a phased basis. There are no known archaeological sites on the proposed development site.
In all, fifteen trial pits were dug. One was dug in the entranceway of the racecourse, five pits were located in the vicinity of the demolished buildings of the racecourse, four were located in the vicinity of the building formally known as 'Total Fitness' and three were located in the vicinity of the racetrack. Two were located across the Navan Road in the location of a proposed train station.
Monitoring was carried out at the entranceway of the racecourse, to the north of the demolished buildings of the racecourse, in the vicinity of the building formally known as 'Total Fitness' and in the vicinity of the racetrack. Topsoil-stripping was carried out using a medium-sized earth remover with grading bucket. Topsoil-stripping was also carried out across the Navan Road in the location of a proposed attenuation area and silt trap.
Monitoring was carried out between 8 March and 21 May 2004 and no artefacts or sites of archaeological significance were identified.
27 Hilltown Way, Swords, Co. Dublin
