2010:531 - Newtownmoyaghy, Meath

Moore Marine Services was commissioned by Irish Archaeological Consultancy (IAC) on behalf of McGarrell Reilly Homes to carry out an impact assessment of a proposed distribution road bridge across the Rye River at Newtownmoyaghy, Kilcock, Co. Meath.
The underwater assessment was commissioned in order to locate, define and ascertain the character, condition and extent of any archaeological features, deposits or objects which may be affected by the development. It took place on 20 October 2010. Weather on the day was clear and dry, with few clouds and periodic sunshine. Water flow at the time of the survey was moderate with a generally firm riverbed and good visibility. The maximum recorded water depth was 0.4m and the average was 0.3m.
The site of the proposed crossing of the Rye River comprised a 250m stretch of the third order Rye River at Newtownmoyaghy, Co. Meath. This west–east-orientated stretch of the river was situated c. 500m to the east of Kilcock town, adjacent to the R148 and the Royal Canal. It was flanked to the north by agricultural grassland and to the south by the R148 and Royal Canal.
The desktop assessment concluded that, whilst there have been no artefacts recovered from the site, no previous excavations carried out in the immediate vicinity and there are no recorded monuments or places at the proposed development, it is situated in a wider landscape which is of significant archaeological and historical importance.
The field survey recorded that the likelihood of the project impacting on archaeology was very low. This was due to the fact that the river had been dredged in the recent past. The presence of a large dredge spoil heap on the northern banks of the river, the vertical mechanically excavated riverbanks and the paucity of recorded finds, both modern and ancient, indicated that a programme of dredging appeared to have removed any archaeology which may have been present.