County: Laois Site name: BOHERARD/COOLFIN/FRIARSLAND
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/028
Author: Robert O’Hara, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Limited
Site type: Fulacht fia and Structure
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 634321m, N 685243m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.916927, -7.489675
The assessment of Contract 2, Testing Area 1 of the M7 Portlaoise–Castletown/M8 Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme, involved the mechanical excavation of 207 test-trenches with a combined length of 8066.82m, resulting in a total excavated area of 17,341.9m2. The testing area was situated in the townlands of Boherard, Coolfin and Friarsland at the proposed location of the Aghaboe grade separated junction, which will incorporate a bridge over the existing Aghaboe road (R43488), leading to the proposed motorway–motorway interchange in Ballycuddahy. Testing Area 1 consisted of thirteen separate fields. Six archaeological sites were identified here. These included extant fulachta fiadh at Boherard 3, a round house at Coolfin 1 and disturbed fulachta fiadh at Coolfin 2–4 and Friarsland 1 (which was later noted to be beyond the road-take).
Boherard 3 consisted of two low mounds, one oval, one circular, within an area which measured c. 30m by 30m. It was located in Plot 171, Field 629, at Chainage 18750 (NGR 233698 184946).
Coolfin 1 consisted of a discontinuous circular drip gully, within which was contained a number of pits and post-holes, stake-holes and a hearth. There was no evidence of an enclosing ditch. It was located in Plot 175, Field 621, at Chainage 19450 (NGR 234351 185209), within an area measuring c. 25m by 25m.
Coolfin 2 consisted of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 10m by 10m. It was located in Plot 175, Field 621, at Chainage 19260 (NGR 234209 185103).
Coolfin 3 consisted of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 15m by 10m. It was located in Plot 175, Field 622, at NGR 234384 185004.
Coolfin 4 consisted of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 10m by 10m. It was located in Plot 171, Field 623, at NGR 234139 184921.
Friarsland 1 consisted of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 15m by 10m. It was located in Plot 172, Field 612, beyond the road-take around Chainage 18920 (NGR 233849 284993). Further investigation at this location is therefore not required.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
