County: Tipperary Site name: Moatquarter/Loughan/Castleroan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003375
Author: Finn Delaney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 605723m, N 682003m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.888871, -7.914954
Phase 1 trial-trench testing and townland boundary surveys along 17.1km (Contact 1) of the 35km N7 Castletown to Nenagh (Derrinsallagh to Ballintotty) national road scheme were commissioned by Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. Contract 1 comprises the western half of the scheme and runs from Clashnevin to Castleroan, passing along the Tipperary North and Offaly county border regions. Contract 1 was divided into six areas, 2–7, during Contract 1 trial-trench testing. Area 7 is located at Chainage 14.670–17.080 (2.4km), between 121m OD and 171m OD, and encompasses the townlands of Moatquarter, Loughan and Castleroan. Works were completed on 2–4 May 2007.
Three archaeological sites were recorded in Area 7. Three groups of pits were recorded at Moatquarter (see No. 1704 below), a group of pits and post-holes were recorded at Castleroan 1 and a hearth and a small group of pits at Castleroan 2.
Phase 2 excavation works were carried out between July 2007 and March 2008.
