County: Westmeath Site name: BALLYMORE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 09E0031
Author: Gill McLoughlin, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Medieval ditch
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 621844m, N 748988m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.490458, -7.670831
A small-scale excavation was carried out prior to the proposed construction of six houses and a cr’che at Ballymore, Co. Westmeath. This excavation followed on from a programme of testing and a desk-top assessment of the site. The excavation was carried out on behalf of Westmeath County Council from 23 to 27 February 2009. Subsequent monitoring of topsoil-stripping at the site was carried out on 2–9 March 2009. The proposed development forms part of a local authority housing scheme afforded Part VIII planning, subject to an archaeological assessment as stipulated by An Bord Plean$la.
The proposed development area borders the western extent of the RMP constraints area for the medieval borough of Ballymore (WM024–179) and is located c. 100m north-west of a stone tower/castle which is also recorded as ^Plary Monastery’ on the RMP maps (WM024–182/WM024–034).
The features identified during testing consisted of linear ditches and furrows and represent the remains of a field system of which no surface trace survives. With the exception of one linear ditch, these features were deemed to be of little archaeological interest. Excavation focused on a north–south-oriented linear ditch 1.8m wide by 0.6m deep which contained a rich organic fill with inclusions of wood fragments, charcoal, animal bone and a small quantity of 12th–14th-century pottery. This ditch probably represents a drainage or boundary ditch associated with the medieval occupation of Ballymore. No additional features were identified that would indicate further habitation evidence.
