County: Kildare Site name: NAAS: Lawlor's Hotel, Poplar Square
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0269
Author: Ellen O'Carroll, The Archaeology Company
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 689451m, N 719599m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.219266, -6.660566
An investigation was carried out at the south-western corner of the carpark at Lawlor's Hotel, Naas. A previous assessment, which included the excavation of test-trenches, had been undertaken by Arch-Tech in April 2003 (Johnston 2003). Possible remains of Eustace Castle had been identified as occupying the south-western corner of the present carpark. Further excavations were required to locate the full extent of the castle. The development occurs within the zone of archaeological potential for Naas (SMR 19:30) and inside the medieval walled town.
An area measuring 9m by 7m was opened to reveal the partial remains of the eastern wall of Eustace Castle. This wall was orientated north-south, measured 1m in height and ran the length of the area investigated. It was, however, truncated in the centre by a modern service pipe. The southern half of the wall measured 2.95m in length and 1.55m in width. It was composed of an intact course of large green subrectangular blocks (0.4m by 0.4m by 0.1m) with occasional small angular stones set in between the larger blocks. The northern half of the wall was less preserved, with about ten intact blocks. This side measured 3.9m in length and the exposed width measured 1.1m. Both portions of the wall were set straight onto the clayey surface, which may not be the natural subsoil, although further excavation is needed to clarify this.
A cobbled surface was also identified in the northern side of the area investigated. It may be associated with features within the castle walls. The southern wall of the castle is possibly extant within the wall of the property adjoining the area investigated. The western wall may be located underneath the footpath. The northern wall was probably demolished during the construction of Lawlor's Hotel in the last century. There were very few artefacts recorded during the investigations to suggest a definite date for the exposed remains.
The proposed development will directly impact on the remains of Eustace Castle uncovered in these investigations. It is proposed by the developer to preserve the remains of the castle by means of raft foundations. If this is not possible, it is recommended that the castle wall and associated archaeological deposits be fully recorded prior to any groundworks being undertaken.
17 Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
