County: Westmeath Site name: ST JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL, COOLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 3:57 Licence number: 05E1398
Author: Ciara McCarthy, for Arch-Tech Ltd, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 641601m, N 772439m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.700000, -7.370000
Seven test-trenches were excavated at the site of St Joseph’s Hospital, Coole, Co. Westmeath. The site of an earthwork lies partly within the eastern portion of the proposed development. Five trenches were excavated in two fields in the west of the development. No features or artefacts of archaeological significance were identified. It was the intention to excavate six trenches in the vicinity of the earthwork. However, a large portion of the area was unavailable for testing due to the amount of building rubble, foundations and services located there. Two trenches were excavated in the south end. Modern disturbance in the form of large pits of rubbish and frequent services was noted. No features or artefacts of archaeological significance were identified. It is likely that the earthwork has been considerably disturbed by the construction of the hospital.
