2008:1152 - Nenagh, Tipperary

Test excavation and monitoring were undertaken in Nenagh between June 2007 and February 2008 during the construction of a metropolitan area network (MAN) as part of the Shannon Broadband Project. The excavation phase of the project involved the opening of a series of trenches throughout the town centre and its surrounding hinterland. All of the trenches were located along roads, either in the carriageway proper or the adjoining verge or footpath. There were no river crossings other than at existing bridges. The trenches were 0.6m wide and excavated to a standard depth of 0.9m in carriageways and 0.6m in verges/footpaths. Junction boxes (1.25m2) were excavated where two or more trenches intersected and at regular intervals along long straight sections. Prior to development a series of four test-trenches were excavated at locations where the MAN route crossed the presumed line of the town defences at Pearse Street, Kickham Street, Silver Street and Kenyon Street. All works within the area of constraint surrounding the historic town were monitored on a full-time basis, with the remainder of the works being monitored intermittently. No archaeological features, finds or deposits were encountered during the course of this work.