2015:255 - River Barrow, Clonrusk Lower and Moneybeg, Carlow

Post-excavation archaeological inspection of the riverbed within a 17m long trench, located 12m upstream of Royal Oak Bridge, Clorusk Lower, Royal Oak, Co. Carlow. The trench was excavated to accommodate two 300mm diameter pipes, placed to facilitate water abstraction for the adjacent whiskey distillery, currently under construction within the grounds of Hollenden House.

A pre-disturbance archaeological assessment of the riverbed location undertaken by ADCO in August 2014 observed no archaeological features or structural elements within the survey area. However, the recovery of a number of historic coins and the brass butt of a flintlock pistol highlighted the archaeological potential of the riverbed; and the need for archaeological monitoring of ground disturbances at this location.

Edmond O’Donovan and Associates were tasked with the archaeological monitoring of the pipe-trench excavation; carried out under Licence Number: 14E0247. ADCO personnel were present for the duration of the in-water excavation works on 8th September and assisted in the monitoring process, using licences 14D0040 ext and 14R0108 ext.

No materials, structures, or deposits of archaeological or historic significance were uncovered during inspection of the excavated trench. No material of archaeological significance was encountered as part of the monitoring process of the in-water deposits. The only noteworthy material encountered was a deposit of rubble stone located within the northern bank, approximately 1m below the earthen slope that forms the bank structure. This material is thought to be discarded stone from the nineteenth-century bridge structure that pre-dated the existing Royaloak Bridge.

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