2010:245 - Clondalkin and Irishtown, Dublin

Monitoring was undertaken of the excavation of three utility slit-trenches along the proposed route of Metro West between 4 and 15 October 2010 on behalf of the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA).
Approximately 60 utility slit-trenches were proposed along the route of the proposed Metro West scheme at various locations, from Belgard Road, Tallaght to Fonthill Road, Clondalkin (Area MW201). The purpose of the trenches was to investigate the size, type, level, gradient and position of all existing utilities and associated fixtures, including any underground culverts, basements, chambers, etc., along the route of the proposed scheme. Nine of the proposed trenches were located in proximity to sites recorded in the RMP and/or areas of archaeological potential. On that basis it was determined that a programme of monitoring should be undertaken in conjunction with the excavation of these nine trenches (see also Nos 10E0389 [No. 246 below], 10E0415 [No. 244 above] and 10E0417 [No. 239 above]). However, only seven of the planned nine trenches were actually excavated; the remaining two trenches were omitted from the scheme.
Slit-trenches 136 and 137 were located in the townland of Clondalkin within a zone of archaeological potential associated with an archaeological complex (DU021–010). This area included the locations of the townland boundary between Clondalkin and Brideswell Commons, a holy well (DU021–010001), an inscribed stone (DU021–010002), a children’s burial-ground (DU021–010003) and the site of a house shown on the 1st edition OS 6-inch series. Slit-trench 160 was located in the townland of Irishtown, close to the townland boundary between Ronanstown and Irishtown. No archaeological features or deposits were identified during excavation of any of the three trenches.