County: Dublin Site name: O’CONNELL STREET, DUBLIN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: C315; E3965
Author: Tara Doyle, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd, Unit 1, Wallingstown Business Park, Little Island, Cork.
Site type: Urban, post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 715858m, N 734588m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.348810, -6.259853
Monitoring of four slit-trenches on the central reserve of O’Connell Street, Dublin, was undertaken between 18 May and 5 July 2009. These trenches were opened to identify existing utilities and associated features including underground culverts and basements. This investigation was carried out on behalf of the Road Procurement Agency as part of the design and construction of the proposed Metro North light rail project. The trenches were located to the north of the William Smith O’Brien monument and east of Eason’s bookshop. In accordance with the conditions set out in the consent issued, a metal-detection device was employed to assist with finds retrieval (consent number R141).
Excavation of the four trenches resulted in the temporary removal of granite pavement slabs using a con-saw. Each trench was subsequently hand-dug. On completion of archaeological and utility recording and survey, the trenches were backfilled and the appropriate surface reinstated.
Post-medieval deposits, a culvert and possible cobble surfaces were identified in one of the trenches. The remaining three trenches encountered utilities relatively close to the pavement surface and no archaeological features were identified. No artefacts were recovered from any of the four trenches.
