2015:555 - Connaght Grove, Athboy, Meath

The 1.5 hectare Connaught Grove development site Phase 1 was trial trenched to 11.99% in September 2015. The results showed no significant archaeological evidence earlier than the 18th-19th century. This could indicate that the field – which is known as ‘Oliver’s Field’ from the folklore that Oliver Cromwell corralled his horses here in 1649 – is actually some distance from the medieval town of Athboy. The site had been extensively used for quarrying and lime burning in the 19th century and had been partly raised and levelled with imported soil.

A road down the east side of the site is marked on the 1837 OS and the ditch associated with this was used as rake-out areas for a series of three (perhaps four) small, sunken, lime-burning kilns.

Several field boundaries were recorded, particularly an 18th-19th-century bank and ditch that runs 200m along the eastern side of the site. This bank and ditch forms the 1837 Athboy town boundary (also Bunboggan townland boundary) but had clearly been re-dug numerous times as modern plastics etc. were in its base.

Demolished buildings dating to the 18th and 19th century were recorded along the Connaught Street side. There was no indication of the Athboy town ‘Connaught Gate’ and no indication that the medieval Athboy town defences are located on or near this site. This area of Connaught Street is perhaps a 17th – 18th-century rampart-defended suburb – rather than part of any walled medieval town.

An unstratified 18mm diameter lead musket ball and a varying amount of modern pottery, glass, iron nails and farm implements were noted. One potential worked chert piece was recovered.

The area was subsequently monitored under licence 17E0184 (by Giacometi & McGlade).

C/o Meath County Council