County: Westmeath Site name: Sean Costello Street, Irishtown, Athlone
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WM029–042 Licence number: 07E0073
Author: Richard Crumlish, 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 604375m, N 741371m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.422439, -7.934172
Pre-development testing was carried out on 19 and 21 February 2007 at a site at Sean Costello Street, Irishtown, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The proposed development, which consisted of residential apartments and a number of retail units, was located within the archaeological constraint for Athlone town. There were no standing buildings on the site.
Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of five trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development. The trenches measured 10.1m, 10m, 5.9m, 10.5m and 12.3m long respectively, 0.8–2m wide and 0.35–2.1m deep. Below the hardcore and rubble fill on the surface was loose grey sand and gravel. The fill contained modern pottery sherds, red and yellow brick and a small number of animal bones. A number of modern services were uncovered crossing the site. The testing uncovered evidence of modern activity only on the site. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.
