2004:0834 - KILDARE: St Brigid's Cathedral Carpark, Kildare

An assessment of a proposed carpark development on a site adjacent to Market Square and St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare town was carried out by Paul Stevens (No. 833, Excavations 2004). A number of features were exposed in the northern part of the site, including pit and linear features. Assessment of the southern section of this development revealed modern and early disturbance as well as natural subsoil.

Further testing of this site was requested. This was carried out on 6–8 September 2004 and involved excavating trenches at the location of the proposed drainage pipes. An additional six trenches were excavated. Trenches 5–8 were located in Area 2 (southern extent of the site) and Trenches 9–10 were located in Area 1 (northern extent of the site). Two pit features that contained animal bone were identified in Trench 5. The remainder of this trench contained backfill indicative of modern disturbance. This backfill material was identified in Trenches 6–8 and no features of archaeological significance were identified. A rough metalled stone surface, a pit feature and a layer of brown material were identified within Trench 9. Animal bone was recovered from all these features. The pit and brown layer were exposed below the metalled surface so could be post-medieval or medieval in date. No features of archaeological significance were identified in Trench 10.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth