County: Laois Site name: Area 15, Curraghmore/Erris or Skirk
Sites and Monuments Record No.: 222542 185643 to 224430 185825 Licence number: E003418
Author: Eoghan Moore, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Glebe/Clonagooden
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 621539m, N 684346m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.909532, -7.679790
Test-trenching was carried out along the route of the proposed N7 Castletown–Nenagh road scheme in the spring of 2007. Testing of the eastern section, Archaeological Contract 2, extended from Castleroan townland in Co. Offaly, eastwards through North Tipperary, to Clonagooden in Co. Laois. The section was divided into eight testing areas, Areas 8–15, each tested under a separate licence.
Archaeological Area 15 ran from Chainage 33.250 to 35.200, through the townlands of Curraghmore, Erris or Skirk Glebe and Clonagooden, Co. Laois. Works were completed in late April 2007.
Two potential new sites were identified, Curraghmore 1, a spread of burnt stone c. 2m by 2m, and Clonagooden 1, two pits filled with burnt stone (subsequently excavated by Sinéad Marshall, see No. 1045, E3745, above).
Full excavation of all these sites was recommended.
