2004:1632 - THURLES, Tipperary

The Mid-Western Health Board had undertaken to demolish the existing community hospital and to erect a new community hospital, site entrance, car parking and site works at the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. The hospital is located on the site of the earlier Thurles Union Workhouse. Ground disturbance works associated with the construction were monitored.

During the course of monitoring a pipe trench in the south-western corner of the site, a number of grave-cuts were uncovered. After consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, it was determined that six of the grave-cuts required excavation. This resulted in the removal of the skeletal remains of nine individuals, five adults and four juveniles, that dated to the famine period in the mid-19th century. All of the graves were orientated east-west, in the Christian fashion, and all but one of the grave-cuts contained the fragmentary remains of wooden coffins. Osteoarchaeological analysis of the remains undertaken by Linda Fibiger determined that the adults buried on the site had all suffered from some form of degenerative joint disease and dental problems, both indicators of poor health. The four excavated juveniles all showed signs of suffering from longstanding disease. No archaeological finds were recovered from any of the excavated grave-cuts. The remaining grave-cuts were recorded and covered with terram and sand.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork