2007:801 - THE CURRAGH/LOUGHBROWN, Kildare

Test-trenching was carried out in Curragh/Loughbrown townlands as part of ongoing works associated with the redevelopment of the Curragh Racecourse Complex. The development site lay just north of the constraint area of RMP of the Curragh (KD023–076), which comprises over 200 archaeological monuments and numerous features of cultural heritage importance.

The phased development has been divided into six separate sites (A–G), all of which form part of an overall plan to redevelop, refurbish and expand the existing racecourse facilities. The particular phase of the development which is the subject of this summary involved the landscaping and making good of land to the north of, and associated with, the Grandstand (Site B) and the construction of a hotel (Site D). Associated landscaping was also proposed. The West Stand is currently extant on the southern part of Site D and is proposed for demolition during a later phase of works. Water treatment works and a drainage route were also proposed during this phase of development, within Site G.

A previous archaeological assessment had been carried out on works relating to the redevelopment by Teresa Bolger in 2006 (Excavations 2006, No. 952, 06E0126). This assessment was concerned with the realignment of the R413, Curragh Road, and the realignment of a c. 170m section of the Stand House Road. This road separates Sites B and D in the south and Site G in the north. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the assessment. The construction of the R413 and works associated with the temporary contractor’s compound and access road were subsequently monitored by Emer Dennehy and Melanie McQuade (Excavations 2006, No. 953, 06E0126 ext.).

In the present work, nine test-trenches were excavated in the footprint of Sites B, D and G between 4 and 5 July 2007. No archaeological deposits or features were identified.

Site B was a greenfield and was located north of the current Grandstand and west of the Stand Hotel. It was rectangular in plan and within the centre of the site a modern rectangular mound had been formed by refuse and debris. The debris was probably associated with the demolition of a small outbuilding visible on the 1908 OS map, and with the construction of the contractor’s compound and access road. Three trenches were excavated within the field and modern debris was noted within the strata. A linear feature was noted in Trench 1; it was 5.18m wide, c. 0.1m deep and U-shaped in profile; it was filled with a brown/grey gravel with red brick, metals, modern pottery and pieces of wood mixed throughout. The feature was modern in date and may have been a field drain.

Site D, a triangular-shaped field, was situated just west of Site B. It was also a greenfield. Four trenches were excavated across it. An east–west-orientated linear feature was noted in Trench 2B; this was U-shaped in profile and 0.1m deep. It was filled with a mid-brown/grey sandy silt. Flecks of charcoal were scattered throughout. It was also thought to have been a field drain. Modern disturbance associated with the construction of the road was visible in the trenches in the form of tarmacadam and gravels.

Site G was located to the north-west of Sites B and D and was also triangular in plan. It was a greenfield site. The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil sealing natural boulder clay. No archaeological features or deposits were noted, although modern disturbance in the form of gravel was visible at the southern end of Trenches 1 and 3. This was associated with the construction of the earthen bank which forms the northern boundary of Site G.

Further works associated with the development will be carried out in 2008 and all groundworks will be monitored.

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