2015:193 - Nenagh South and Nenagh North, Tipperary

Monitoring was undertaken of Site Investigation Works (SIW) as part of the proposed Nenagh Wastewater Networks Advanced Works, Nenegh, Co. Tipperary. The SIW were concentrated within the town centre and along one of the main approach roads, to the east of the town centre, leading into the town. The investigations were undertaken to guide the design of the forthcoming Wastewater Networks Advanced Works, which is being undertaken to rehabilitate sections of the wastewater network within Nenagh town centre. These specific works will involve the replacement of some sections of the network within Nenagh town, via the construction of a new replacement sewer piping network. The works will extend along Kenyon Street, Pearce Street, Kickham Stteet, Martyr’s Road, Thomas MacDonagh Street and the north-east end of Stafford Street.

Large sections of the SIW were located in the Archaeological Zone of Potential (ZAP) for Nenagh town and within the medieval walled part of the town. Site investigations were sited in the vicinity of the medieval Town Defences, a National Monument, at different locations and included the following: the north-east end of Pearse Street, i.e. c. 30m from the junction with Thomas MacDonagh Street; approximately mid-way along Kickham Street, at the junction with Emmet Place, and at Kenyon Street, close to the junction with Stafford Street.

The SIW component of the scheme was located along six streets within Nenegh town: Thomas MacDonagh Street, Martyr’s Road, Kenyon Street, Kickham Street, Pearse Street and the north-east end of Stafford Street. One slit trench was also positioned at the south-east end of Mitchel Street, close to the junction with Pearse Street/Kenyon Street.

A total of 27 slit trenches, and 23 trial pits positioned within the slit trenches, were opened as part of the SIW component of the Wastewater Scheme of which 21 openings were monitored. Those not monitored were located to the east of the Thomas MacDonagh Street/Martyr’s Road junction and outside the ZAP.

It was evident previous schemes dating from the Victorian period have had substantial impact upon the archaeological remains of Nenagh. This is evident in the large number of modern services – ESB, Broadband, wastewater and watermains and connections – encountered; and the extensive stone-built culvert network uncovered in Pearse Street, Kenyon Street and Kickham Street. For instances, along Pearse Street there is the main culvert extending along the entire length of the street being fed by a large number of tributary culverts leading in at right angles. These tributaries were identified by CCTV. Between the junction with Kickham Street and the turn off for Thomas MacDonagh Street at the north-east end of Pearse Street – an approximate 95m stretch - there are 18 culverts extending off the main culvert, of which 17 are leading off in a north-west direction, whilst the 18th proceeds in a south-east direction.   To the south-west of the junction with Kickham Street there are 12 tributary culverts proceeding in a north-west direction off the main culvert. Typical measurements for these tributaries are 0.3m x 0.5m to 0.3m x 0.6m, although two measure 0.25m x 0.25m. The presence of such a substantial number of culverts would have resulted in extensive disturbance of archaeological remains/deposits along Pearse Street, the historic core of Nenagh town.

Potential archaeological remains were found at a number of site investigation locations. On Martyr’s Road, within Slit Trench No. 5, a straight-sided drain was cut into the natural deposition. It is considered this may be associated with the brewery, which is in close proximity. However, there is a possibility it may be associated with the nearby mid-13th-century Franciscan friary as part of a drainage network utilized in conjunction with fish ponds. Furthermore it is denoted on the earlier OS maps that this area was prone to flooding. This may be evident in the peaty deposit identified in another Slit Trench opened on Martyr's Road which may also be of archaeological potential.

In one of the openings on Kenyon Street, near the junction with Stafford Street, a wall was revealed within very close proximity of the projected line of the medieval town defences. Aligned parallel to the street, the revealed portion had all the attributes of a well-built medieval wall. Both the skin and part of its rubble core were exposed with the remainder extending beneath the pavement. This skin was constructed with large rectangular dressed limestone blocks. Due to the trench dimensions, it was not possible to confirm whether this is, in fact, part of the town wall, but it is considered it is part of a major medieval structure.

An enigmatic layer was recorded in two openings: one sited at the south-east end of Mitchel Street and the second at the south-east end of Kickham Street. This deposit/layer had all the attributes of a buried topsoil and may be associated with burgage plots. The location of this deposit beneath the present carriageway of both streets may indicate that these streets have a later origin than previously thought. Neither of these streets lead to any of the known gates in the town, terminating at the supposed line of the town wall. Such streets, where opened, may have cut through burgage plots.

Following on from the Site Investigation stage, further testing works were planned and commenced in 2016.

17 Staunton Row Clonmel , Co. Tipperary.