2016:221 - Killeagh Gardens, Killeagh, Cork

A programme of works to excavate areas of archaeology identified on the N25 Killeagh Pavement Strengthening Scheme outside the Old Killeagh Graveyard in Killeagh Town are being carried out by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd on behalf of MEIC Ltd. Cork County Council is developing the N25 Killeagh Pavement Strengthening Scheme through Killeagh Town on the N25 National Primary Road.

Daniel Noonan Archaeological Consultancy was engaged by Cork County Council/Cork National Roads Design Office to provide targeted archaeological test trenching services to the N25 Killeagh Pavement Strengthening Scheme. The aim of the testing was twofold: (1) to establish whether any archaeological remains relating to the graveyard extend beyond its current extents, in an eastwards direction under the current road alignment; (2) to assess the potential for other archaeological remains, such as features potentially indicative of an early medieval ecclesiastical enclosure at the location. The purpose was to help inform the archaeological mitigation strategy for the Killeagh scheme; specifically, at the graveyard location (Noonan and Hegarty 2016).

Testing was carried out on 13 and 14 September 2016. The test trenches confirm the presence of human remains (although not definitively of burial cuts) and archaeologically significant material in the tested locations, outside the Old Killeagh Graveyard. It will only be possible to identify the true nature and extent of the material around the Old Killeagh Graveyard when a larger area is opened, as part of the lowering of both carriageways and the footpaths, for construction works (ibid).

The testing licence was transferred to Patricia Long of Rubicon Heritage Services and it was extended to cover the monitoring of the construction phase of the scheme. The first element of the scheme to be undertaken is a services trench which will take the surface water drainage pipes and fibre optic cable. This trench was opened in September 2016 at the northern end of the town at the bridge and runs along the street on the south‐bound lane. It has been monitored along its length.

Features of archaeological significance including human remains have been identified in this trench in front the Old Killeagh graveyard, strengthening the possibility that the features identified in the test trenches were in fact grave cuts. A large possible ditch or depression has also been identified on the suspected line of the original graveyard enclosure. A certain amount of investigation and recording have been done under the monitoring licence but the level of archaeology now warrants archaeological excavation in this vicinity in advance of the service trench and later in advance of the ground reduction across the entire width of the road. A possible ditch located further to the north is also likely to require further excavation.

Excavation works are currently ongoing.

Reference

Noonan, D and Hegarty, D 2016 Interim Archaeological Testing Report, Targeted Testing Outside Old Killeagh Graveyard (RMP CO066‐041001), N25 Killeagh Pavement Strengthening Scheme. Unpublished report for Cork County Council

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