County: Laois Site name: BOHERARD/CORRAUN/FRIARSLAND/PALMERSHILL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/029
Author: Robert O’Hara, Archaeological Consultancy Services Limited, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Fulachta fiadh and possible structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 633575m, N 684835m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.913308, -7.500806
The assessment of Contract 2, Testing Area 2 of the M7 Portlaoise–Castletown/M8 Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme, involved the mechanical excavation of 274 test-trenches. These had a combined length of 11,047.22m, resulting in a total excavated area of 23,751.52m2. The testing area was situated in the townlands of Boherard, Corraun, Friarsland and Palmershill. The scheme at this location will involve the construction of three bridges over the existing Palmershill road (L55970), Corraun–Coolbally road (L56310) and Boherard road (L16320). Provision of bridges at these locations will involve realignments to the existing roads. Testing Area 2 consisted of twenty-one separate fields. Six archaeological sites were identified in the area. These included a round house at Palmershill 1, the remains of a cottage at Palmershill 2 and a number of disturbed fulachta fiadh at Boherard 1 and 2, Corraun 2 and 3 and Friarsland 2.
Corraun 2 consisted of a spread of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 20m by 20m. It was located in Plot 163, Field 595, at Chainage 17000.
Corraun 3 consisted of a spread of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within an area of c. 30m by 20m. It was located in Plot 163, Field 595, at Chainage 16950.
Boherard 1 consisted of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within Field 600. It was located in Plot 166, Field 600, at Chainage 17550–17600. One pit was obvious and further associated features are probably present in the area.
Boherard 2 consisted of a number of deposits of heat-fractured stone and charcoal within a relatively large area between Chainage 17820 and 17950. It was located in Plot 161, Fields 602 and 604.
Friarsland 2 consisted of a spread of heat-fractured stone and charcoal along a stream realignment in Plot 178, Field 611.
Palmershill 1 consisted of a discontinuous circular drip gully within which was contained a number of pits and post-holes. There was no evidence of an enclosing ditch. It was located in Plot 158, Field 590, at Chainage 150–200 (Palmershill road realignment), within an area measuring c. 30m by 40m.
Palmershill 2 was a demolished cottage that was present on the 1837 OS map. It was located in Plot 156, Field 589, at Chainage 550–600 (Palmershill road realignment), within an area measuring c. 20m by 20m.
