2005:1198 - KILLEEN CASTLE, Killeen, Meath

Located north of the extant castle and east of the church and graveyard, this site was identified through test excavation. Due to access/demolition, the site is being excavated in phases and work is ongoing. The L-shaped site is within the footprint of a proposed hotel. Phase I was located north of the castle and measured 40m north–south by 30m. Phase II was located south of the abbey and measured c. 25–50m north–south by 70m. Phase IIb extended west from Phase I for c. 25m north–south by c. 30m. A double-ditched enclosure, 110m in internal diameter and dating to the early medieval period, has been identified within all of these phases. To date, 136m of the outer enclosure ditch has been exposed. It measures 1.7–3.7m in width and varies from 1 to 1.8m in depth. This and the inner enclosure ditch appear to be early medieval in date and have been truncated by a medieval ditch that extends from the base of the current eastern enclosure of the abbey. This ditch has currently been exposed for 20m, measured 3.6m in width by 1.3m in depth. Medieval pottery has been retrieved. Various activity of early/medieval date was identified in the form of corn-drying kilns, pits and a triple-flued kiln. Extensive drainage systems, both 19th-century and modern, were noted extending from the castle. The site remained a desirable location, as is evident by the presence of post-medieval activity. This site when completed will encompass the ecclesiastical and manorial development of Killeen and the relationship between such developments and the extant monuments.

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