2008:1090 - Ballyclerihan to Cashel, Tipperary

Monitoring of a gas feeder and distribution main between Ballyclerihan and Cashel, Co. Tipperary, was conducted between May and November 2008. The Cashel gas feeder main ran a distance of 14,521m along the R6888 from Ballyclerihan to Cashel town, where it joined with the gas distribution mains which ran for a distance of 6487m around the town. Monitoring in the vicinity of the town walls (the town wall and a 20m buffer zone) and the area enclosed by the town walls was undertaken under ministerial consent and the monitoring of the feeder main between Cashel and Ballyclerihan was took place under licence.
The gas main between Cashel and Ballyclerihan passed through the constraint zone of two RMP sites. Both of these were located in the townland of Rosegreen and consisted of a church and graveyard (TS061–036) and a possible motte (TS061–037). No archaeological features were identified during monitoring of pipe-laying in these locations. To the south of Cashel town the gas main also passed through the constraint zone of the ‘old road’, TS061–071. The ‘old road’ is believed to follow the alignment of a medieval trackway known as the Rian Bó Phádraig, thought to have connected the ecclesiastical centres of Cashel, Lismore and Ardmore.
Twelve sites were identified during monitoring of the scheme. Seven sites were identified within the walled town and its buffer zone (20m); four walls were identified on Main Street and a well was identified on Bank Place. A wall and paved surface were also identified on Friar Street and a culvert was identified on John Street. Outside the town walls, a well was identified on Ladyswell Road, a wall was identified on Dominic Road and two sections of culverts were also identified on Dominic Street and a section of culvert on Holycross Road.