2011:660 - Clonakilty, Cork

Monitoring was undertaken of ground works associated with Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme advance works, in the grounds of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. A trench was incrementally excavated along the foundations of the existing retaining wall on the southern bank of the Fealge River. The excavated material comprised sandy clay with frequent inclusions of small and medium stones. An north-south orientated wall, aligned at a right angle to the river, was revealed in the trench. The exposed section measured 4.3m in length. It is a double faced, coursed, random rubble masonry wall. The material used is sandstone and shale bonded with a coarse lime mortar. It is 0.6m in thickness and survives to a height of 1.4m. It was photographed and drawn before being removed. No artefacts or other datable evidence was found in association with the wall. The 1st (1841) and 2nd (1902) edition Ordnance Survey maps of Clonakilty town depict a building on this location. The map illustrates a small rectangular structure which is annotated 'Temperance Hall'. It is most likely that the wall uncovered formed part of the Temperance Hall structure.