2007:1872 - ATHLONE: Sean Costello Street, Irishtown, Westmeath

Pre-development testing was carried out on 21 February 2007 at a site at Sean Costello Street, Irishtown, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The proposed development, which consisted of the demolition of a number of the buildings and the construction of apartments and retail units, was located within the archaeological constraint for Athlone town. A number of buildings on the site dated to the 19th and 20th centuries.

Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of three trenches, located in the accessible areas of the site. The trenches measured 18.8m, 6.3m and 8m long, 0.9–2m wide and 0.5–1.5m deep. Below the recent fill, hardcore, concrete and topsoil on the surface, were tarmac, rubble fill and loose grey sand and gravel. The topsoil and rubble fill contained modern artefacts and occasional animal bone. The testing uncovered evidence of modern activity only at the site and nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.