2011:574 - NENAGH: Nenagh Castle, Tipperary

Monitoring of the excavation of service trenches and associated manholes at Nenagh Castle was carried out in December 2011. The service runs and associated manholes extended through an area that has already been partially archaeologically excavated. The service trenches were limited to areas of previous disturbance. The edge of the moat associated with Nenagh Castle and known to survive along the route of the proposed ducting was previously discovered in the area; all necessary trench and manhole excavations in this area avoided the edge of the moat. As associated material/features are known to survive 0.8m below present ground level in some areas, the service trenches were kept at a higher level. A portion of a wall was noted, measuring 3.6m wide north–south and extending across the width of the trench (1.2m). The wall had no dressed facing stones and consisted of large, undressed stones with a rubble core and bonded with a buff-coloured gritty lime mortar. A sample of this mortar was taken for further analysis. This wall may represent a portion of a late medieval/early post-medieval manor house. As the wall is constructed in the moat area, it post-dates the main period of use of the castle.

No other archaeological features or deposits were noted.