2008:767 - Clonmacken, Limerick

Testing was carried out in April 2008 as part of a pre-development assessment at Clonmacken House (LI005–047). The 18th–19th-century estate house is now in ruins. It is possible that the remains of an earlier castle, dating at least to the 17th century, are located on the site of Clonmacken House. Sixteen test-trenches were opened across the proposed development site. Trenches 1–4 were positioned to examine the foundations of Clonmacken House and associated buildings. These showed all the foundations to be of 18th- to early 19th-century date. A stone well was uncovered in Trench 4. This well and small finds retrieved from the topsoil were also of 18th – 20th-century date. A layer of topsoil and rubble was present in most of the trenches, reflecting the demolition of the formerly extant structures on the site. Glass bottles and ceramic mugs were frequent finds from the topsoil. A circular-shaped stone with a flat face was found in Trench 7. This may have been part of an estate feature. Two stone-filled drainage ditches were identified in Trenches 12–14, which were located between the main house and the walled garden. Trench 15 revealed the remains of a kerbed path and external stairs leading to the main entrance of Clonmacken House. Both of these features are marked on the 25-inch OS map 1900–1902. The exposed stratigraphy within all 16 trenches and the examination of the artefacts recovered did not reveal any evidence for previous structures or features in this location.