County: Westmeath Site name: MARKET SQUARE/CASTLE STREET, ATHLONE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WM029–04202 Licence number: C347; E4018
Author: Martin E. Byrne, Byrne Mullins & Associates, 7 Cnoc na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
Site type: Adjacent to castle
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 603771m, N 741461m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.423252, -7.943263
Monitoring of ground-reduction works associated with the provision of an army memorial was undertaken on a phased basis between 25 August and 16 October 2009. The site of the memorial is located adjacent to the north-west mural tower of Athlone Castle, a national monument.
The ground-reduction works were undertaken in three distinct phases. Phase 1 consisted of all demolition works and removal of street furniture, etc., and the excavation of three trial-pits, two within the site and one in the adjacent road. Phase 2 consisted of the laying of a new surface water drain from the site to an existing manhole on Castle Street, as well as the construction of an associated manhole/chamber in the footpath adjacent to the site. Phase 3 consisted of general ground-reduction works to the agreed construction level within the site. The only features of archaeological interest uncovered during the works were the subsurface basal remains of the extant mural tower and curtain walls; no artefacts of interest were recovered.
