2010:431 - Kilminchy, Straboe and Clonreher – Portlaoise–Mountmellick Water Supply Improvement Scheme, Laois

Testing was undertaken at Kilminchy, Straboe and Clonreher, Co. Laois, prior to works relating to the Portlaoise–Mountmellick water supply improvement scheme. The three areas were recommended for testing based on their proximity to RMP sites (LA013–005, LA013–019 and LA013–028).
Test-trenching commenced at Kilminchy on 27 May 2010 and lasted for two days. A total of seventeen trenches were mechanically investigated across the test area, which measured 16,200m². A site consisting of a small circular ditched enclosure with an external diameter of 20m, a maximum width of 2.3m and a maximum depth of 0.64m was identified within the eastern part of the testing area. A large quantity of animal bone was recovered from three small excavated sections of the enclosing ditch and internal and external pits were also identified. No datable finds were recovered from the test sections; however, it is thought that it may have been contemporary with either the ringfort (RMP LA013–028) located to the south-west, or the Iron Age enclosures excavated by Grace Fegan and Valerie Keeley at Ballydavis c. 500m to the east (Excavations 2003, No. 1053, 03E0151, and Excavations 1995, No. 173, 95E111).
Testing commenced at Straboe on 28 May 2010 and lasted for two days. One trench was excavated in the grass verge at the closest point to the church and graveyard (LA013–005) and a further two trenches were excavated for site investigation purposes in the existing roadway and in the grass verge. Nothing of archaeological interest was identified in any of the trenches.
Testing commenced at Clonreher on 9 June 2010 and lasted one day. A total of two trenches were mechanically investigated in the grass verge along the side of the road in the vicinity of the castle (LA013–019). Nothing of archaeological interest was identified in any of the trenches.