County: Westmeath Site name: Mount Temple
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0039
Author: Rosanne Meenan, Roestown, Drumree, Co. Meath.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 614995m, N 741961m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.427546, -7.774372
Planning permission was granted to build a golf academy at the east side of an existing golf-course and to construct sixteen houses on the western portion of the golf-course. Testing was a condition of the permission.
The Mount Temple area retains a number of medieval and Anglo-Norman sites, including a large motte and bailey. Mount Temple was part of the de Lacy land grant. The monuments closest to the golf academy are an earthwork (WM030–039), the site of an earthwork (WM030–041), the remains of an abbey (WM030–035) and a holy well (WM030–036). These are located just south of the boundary of the proposed housing development. The area of the proposed housing is low-lying ground, delimited by a stream at its south-west and high ground on all the remaining sides.
Eighteen test-trenches were excavated with a 1.9m toothless bucket down to the top of the undisturbed subsoil. Trench 1 was taken through the surface of the undisturbed soil to the gravels below to test the underlying stratification. The trenches were placed across the footprints of the proposed housing units, in parts of the open areas and the accessway. Nothing of archaeological interest was found. The only features were possible cultivation marks and the only finds were modern pottery.
