2004:0967 - ADARE, Limerick

This is the fourth season of archaeological works at Adare Castle, Co. Limerick, in advance of conservation and restoration works currently taking place there. Adare (‡th daire, the ford of the oaks) Castle is located on the north-eastern limits of the town on the bank of the River Maigue. The castle consists of a keep set within an inner ward that is, in turn, protected by an outer ward. The main entrance is through the western side of the outer curtain wall, which is protected by a gatehouse incorporating a rear portcullis. Immediately beside the gatehouse and forming the south-west corner of the complex is an early rectangular two-storey banquet hall (the smaller of two) that most likely dates to the first decade of the 13th century. A second rectangular and larger hall is located to the east of the south-west hall. A large fosse, now partially filled, surrounded the inner ward and extended in a general P-shape to protect the outer gatehouse and to link directly into the Maigue River. The main focus of the medieval castle complex is the rectangular keep; it is largely destroyed to ground level, with only the northern gable standing to full height. The keep is set within an inner ward that is, in turn, enclosed by a large fosse or moat. The entrance to the inner ward is further protected by a gatehouse and drawbridge structure.

In 2001 the drawbridge pit was excavated in advance of reconstruction of the drawbridge area (Excavations 2001, No. 742). In 2002 the kitchen (Area I) located to the north-west of the banquet hall and the area between the two halls in the outer ward (Area II) were excavated (Excavations 2002, No. 1072). In 2003 further works were undertaken by Jacinta Kiely in the area between the two halls (Area II) and a section of the moat (Area III) was excavated (Excavations 2003, No. 1126).

In 2004 a single cutting was excavated extending for 4m north-south by 14m along the line of the south-east section of the outer curtain wall. This section of the curtain wall is more or less totally destroyed to ground level. Consequently, the Maigue River, which flows directly alongside, seasonally inundates this area and most of the outer ward during inclement weather combined with high tides. The archaeological objective was to reveal the below-ground limits of this wall and a known well that was recorded here previously prior to restoration works on the destroyed wall section. Seasonal alluvium deposits had masked the basal courses of the wall. Furthermore, arterial drainage works undertaken in the mid-1970s had further masked the original masonry fabric here.

The excavation revealed the severely impacted basal remains of the original wall, although the outer face could not be revealed and indeed may have been destroyed, as this area had been refaced with stone-to-the-board work in the 1970s. The south-west limits did reveal a return that possibly reflects the original or an early repair of the wall, possibly reflecting a landing area associated with a nearby river gate. Sections of the internal facing of the wall were exposed, albeit in a very poor and fragmentary state with very little mortar adhering.

The removal of alluvial silts on the north side of the cutting exposed a stone-built well integrated within the curtain wall fabric. A previously unrecorded north-north-east/south-south-westorientated wall was also revealed.

The well is one of three recorded for the castle complex, one of which was excavated in 2002. The surviving upper courses are oval in plan, though internally it changes as it extends to a square profile with rounded corners. The surviving section of the well is 1.6m deep and contained four waterlogged deposits. Artefacts recovered include animal bone, shell, wood, an iron blade with partially decorated hafting and half of a lugged stone mortar.

A wooden beam extends across the northern base face of the well in an east-west direction. This substantial oak timber extends beyond the limits of the well and may reflect earlier work at Adare. Architecturally it has no practical function within the well. Around 1865 Dunraven undertook excavations along the outside of the curtain wall during a period of good weather and low water. During these excavations a very large oak beam with several mortises and lap joints, probably corresponding to a base plate, was recovered. It is surmised at present that the exposed beam at the bottom of the well may also form part of an earlier wooden base plate associated with riverine revetment work.