2007:736 - TRALEE: 120 Rock Street, Kildare

Pre-development testing was undertaken in two phases in July and August 2007. Phase 1 commenced when the rear of the premises was cleared of all overgrowth. It involved the excavation of two test-trenches, 20m long by 1m wide by 1.5m deep. The upper 0.3m was composed of mixed dark-brown silt topsoil with flecks of mortar and included fragments of red bricks, modern pottery sherds, mortar and occasional cobblestones. The latter were medium-sized sandstone cobbles, ex situ. Below this disturbed layer was sterile, dark-brown/grey waterlogged clay, c. 1–1.2m deep, over limestone bedrock. Results from Trench 2, 2m south of Trench 1, were similar.

Phase 2 commenced when the interior of this mid-terrace, two-storey structure with a two-storey annexe was demolished and cleared. The façade and roofline were retained. The trench measured 2m wide, 1.4m deep, 12m long and was located 4m inside the front wall of the remains of the dwelling. Below the tiled surface 0.1m of aggregate over a thin layer of stone rubble was recorded. This overlay 0.5m of mixed mid-brown silt topsoil, including flecks of mortar, red-brick fragments, lead and clay pipes. Finally, a layer of black and grey waterlogged silt, 0.5m deep, over limestone bedrock was recorded.

Sandy Lane, Barrow, Ardfert, Co. Kerry