County: Tipperary Site name: Area 14, Rockforest and Ballykelly, Co. Tipperary, and Newtown or Skirk, Co. Laois
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003416
Author: Eoghan Moore, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd, Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 619868m, N 684912m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.914682, -7.704592
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, 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.
Area 14 ran from Chainage 30.500 to 33.250, through the townlands of Rockforest and Ballykelly, Co. Tipperary, and Newtown or Skirk, Co. Laois. Works were completed in late April 2007.
Three potential new sites were identified, as follows: Ballykelly 1, a burnt mound, c. 9m by 2m, and a spread of burnt clay, c. 1.5m by 1.5m; Ballykelly 2, several spreads of burnt stone, a possible charcoal kiln and several pits; Ballykelly 3, a possible metalworking area with burnt clay and charcoal.
Full excavation of all these sites was recommended.
