County: Westmeath Site name: Newcastle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E0446
Author: Martin Doody, New Road, Portlaoise.
Site type: Near castle
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642081m, N 739293m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.402109, -7.367195
An application for planning permission has been made to Westmeath County Council to erect a new slatted shed and ancillary site works at Newcastle, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. The shed will measure 19m in length and 7m in height. It is proposed to construct the unit in an active farmyard c. 35m to the south of the castle.
The site is in the area of Newcastle (castle in ruins) and within the zone of archaeological potential established around the castle (WM033–053). The proposed development is located to the south of the castle in what is currently a working farmyard and within the confines of what appears to have been a stone building or yard apparently dating to the mid- to late 19th century.
The area in which the development is proposed is located to the south of the castle and is bounded to the north-east by the 19th-century shed, to the south-east by a stone wall and to the north-west by the remains of a further wall, only the footing of which is visible at ground level. The interior of the enclosed area is markedly at a lower level than the surrounding area. The indications from the test excavation indicate that the area had been dug out at some time in the past; however, the remains of a small area of cobbling may indicate that at least part of this area was paved. There was no indication of when the cobbling may have been laid down. Apart from the cobbling and a single fragment of animal bone, no features or finds of archaeological interest were recorded.
