2009:801 - BALLYGUNNERCASTLE, Waterford

Testing was conducted in July 2009 on behalf of Tritschler Tritschler & Associates in Ballygunnercastle, Co. Waterford. The site was located 4km south-east of Waterford city, is immediately to the east, south-east and south of St Mary’s Roman Catholic church, Ballygunner, and encompasses two discrete areas. The one located to the east and southeast of the present church measures c. 23m north–south by 8m and the second, located to the south of the church, measures 9m east–west by 6.5m. The proposed development consists of the construction of a two-storey extension to the side and rear of the existing building, and an existing grave, close to the church, will also have to be relocated.
Two trenches were excavated, with the first located 2–3m to the south and south-east of the church building. It was 22m in length and was orientated east–west at the western end and south-west/northeast at the eastern end. Removal of 0.38m of overburden revealed nothing of archaeological interest. Trench 2 was located to the east of the church building, was orientated north–south and measured 9m in length. A possible post-hole, pit, deposit, wall foundation and probable drain were revealed in this trench. In December 2009, these features were resolved under extension of the present licence. The pit and post-hole represented the earliest archaeological activity, with the pit containing many snail shells in a matrix of light-brown clayey silt. These were sealed by a deposit which was truncated by the wall foundation. The fill in and around the extant stone in the wall foundation revealed a sherd of post-medieval pottery. The drain was found to truncate this wall foundation. Post-excavation analysis of the fill of the pit and the pottery sherd are still awaited.