2008:1075 - 31 and 32 Castle Street, Sligo, Tipperary

The site at Castle Street in Sligo town was located within the urban archaeological constraint area for SL014–065. This constraint zone is based on the line of the town’s 17th-century artillery fortifications (earthworks only). The site of the proposed development was also within the Market Cross Architectural Conservation Area, as described in the Sligo Development Plan. The area of the proposed mixed-use development consisted of two 19th/20th-century terraced retail units and a covered alleyway providing access to the rear of the site. The site is bordered to the north by Castle Street, to the south by a large stone 19th-century warehouse and to the east and west by retail units.
Seven test-trenches were excavated across the site between 10 and 20 June 2008. The site will receive intrusive works within an area that largely has been impacted upon. In general the area consisted of rubble fill and uncompacted deposits varying in depth from 0.5m to 1.1m in depth. This material contained modern artefacts throughout, the earliest identifiable find being 19th-century porcelain. It is possible that early material may once have existed but, if so, was subsequently mostly removed to provide a level area for subsequent building.