County: Kildare Site name: Portgloriam
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 17E0647
Author: Eoin Halpin
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 686809m, N 738258m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.387345, -6.695018
The development site, located in Portgloriam townland off the R407 Kilcock to Clane road in Co. Kildare, is situated on level ground surrounded by improved grassland and is approached via a 150m long avenue from the west giving access. Following an appeal to An Board Pleanála the proposal was granted planning permission with an archaeological testing condition attached.
The derivation of the name Portgloriam has not been absolutely determined. The official Irish form in use is Port Gleorán. The reason for the uncertainty is the conflicting forms which are found in ancient references. The earliest form from 1540 AD is Portglory. Later forms occur which end in -n and in –m. Port usually means a bank or an earthwork. Gleorán is a plant name which has been variously understood as cress or nasturtium (www.loganim.ie).
There are no known sites of cultural heritage interest within the boundary of the proposed development, the closest, a plough-truncated ringfort (KD005-020) is located some 575 m to the north.
Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in any of the eight test trenches examined. Testing confirmed that the construction in the late 2000s of the extant Mount Pleasant complex caused considerable disturbance in the form of topsoil stripping, scarping and levelling of the original site, which suggested that any archaeology which may have been located within the area has been substantially disturbed or removed.
36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan Co Down
