County: Laois Site name: CLONBOYNE AND CLONKEEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/042, E2157
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 643850m, N 696399m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.016497, -7.346486
An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme (Contract 3) in 2005. Additional assessment was carried out in 2006 and involved the mechanical excavation of 46 test-trenches, a combined length of 3010 linear metres; this resulted in an excavated area of c. 3010m2. This testing area is situated in the townlands of Clonboyne and Clonkeen at Chainage 35400–36600.
Only one feature of archaeological significance was identified. This feature has been designated Clonboyne 2 and consisted of the limited remains of a ploughed-out fulacht fiadh. It consisted of an oval trough (1.9m by 1.51m by 0.32m) and three shallow pits. The spread had been removed by ploughing and the site was truncated by frequent agricultural furrows. The samples from this site have yet to be analysed.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
