2008:627 - Moanmore, Kerry

A pre-development test excavation was undertaken at Moanmore, Castleisland, prior to planning approval for the construction of a residential complex for the elderly on the northern outskirts of the town. The site is situated close to the archaeological constraint zone of a former Church of Ireland church (KE040–027) within which is a stone sculpture (KE040–02701). The apartment complex will be located within a large residential estate that has grown up outside the town on a secondary road to Listowel. At the time of the test excavation, the proposed development area consisted of open derelict ground, the eastern portion of which had been used as a compound during the construction of the nearby housing estates. The western half of the site was relatively undisturbed though traces of machine activity were evident on the surface. In all, five test-trenches were opened and these were placed across those areas of the site where maximum ground disturbance would occur. The trenches were 1.5m wide and all were excavated with a mechanical excavator fitted using a toothless grading bucket. The topsoil was removed to the level of the subsoil and the surface was subsequently examined for any in situ archaeology. No features or finds of archaeological significance were noted in any of the excavated areas