2012:545 - Burgagery-Lands West/Burgagery-Lands East/Suir Island (Oldbridge)/Raheen/Croan Lower/Kilgainey Lower and Upper/Poulboy, Tipperary

Monitoring of works associated with the Suir River (Clonmel North and East) Drainage Scheme – Civil Works Contract was carried out between October 2010 and July 2012. Monitoring was carried out in the townlands of Burgagery-Lands West, Burgagery-Lands East, Suir Island (Old Bridge), Raheen, Croan Lower, Kilgainey Lower and Upper and Poulboy, Co. Tipperary and Co. Waterford.
The project involved the construction of flood defence walls, food defence embankments, storm water pipelines and associated pump stations, river widening works and demolition works on five bridges. Three of these structures were removed in their entirety with the other two having new decks and parapets constructed. The works were in various locations in the centre and east of Clonmel on both sides of the River Suir.
All areas of works were monitored. While a number of features of historical interest were recorded nothing of archaeological significance was identified that merited further mitigation. A detailed architectural report on the bridges to be impacted upon was carried out in advance by historic building specialist Rob Goodbody, in tandem with a laser survey of the bridges and other structures carried out by Coastway Ltd. Many of the more detailed findings from the scheme are documented in Goodbody’s report, and other reports relating to the project including excavation reports by James Kyle and Dave Bayley (Excavations 2011, Nos 564 and 566, 11E014 and 10E514 respectively) and monitoring of works related specifically to Old Bridge which were carried out by Dave Bayley under ministerial direction (Excavations 2011, No. 565, E4252).

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.