2016:643 - King's Island, Limerick, Limerick

Monitoring took place of site investigation work associated with King’s Island Flood Relief Scheme, Limerick. A total of 37 trial pits were excavated under archaeological supervision between 4 and 27 May 2016. Features of potential archaeological significance were identified in nine of the trenches. These composed mainly of remnants of earlier quay walls and were found in areas alongside and underlying existing quays at Merchant's Quay/Potato Market, George's Quay and Sir Harry’s Mall. The site inspection pits containing archaeological remains were positioned along some of the existing quay walls on the south-west side of King's Island, stretching from St John's Castle at Merchant's Quay to Sir Harry's Mall. These existing quay walls vary considerably, and some were of more recent origin incorporating modern railings, such as at the County Courthouse near Merchant's Quay. At George's Quay, the walls are of squared ashlar limestone construction and survive to a height of 1.2m above ground level with moulded coping stones. At Merchant's Quay, the walls are of a similar composition but only survive to present ground height, where they are topped with concrete pillars and iron railings. The walls at Sir Harry’s Mall are composed of modern rubble limestone but overlie earlier 19th- or 20th-century limestone ashlar walls.

Sections of earlier quay wall were revealed in nine of the inspection pits along the line of the existing quay walls. In some instances, it was difficult to ascertain whether the walls were underlying the existing quays or were abutting against them. In most cases, the earlier quay walls consisted of rubble mortared construction and survived to considerable depths; up to 4.4m beneath present road surfaces. Some sections were battered while others had visible step features.

The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork