2017:158 - Dysert Oenghusa, Carrigeen, Croom, Limerick

Test trenching was carried out from 8-13 November 2017, along the line of a proposed boundary fence surrounding the upstanding remains of Dysert Oenghusa round tower and church, in Carrigeen, Croom, Co. Limerick. The site is a National Monument (No. 83), RMP LI030-018004. The testing phase was undertaken under an extension of Consent C436, and the issue of licence E4923. Conservation works by the Office of Public Works at the site are nearing completion and the installation of a durable boundary fence is necessary. The current design proposes the insertion of new upright posts at 48 separate positions. These would require post-holes 0.45m x 0.45m in extent and 0.6m in depth.

Thirteen archaeological test pits were excavated by hand to assess the extent of in situ burials, the quantities of disarticulated human skeletal remains, and also any potential for further subsurface archaeological features. The test pits were just 0.3m x 0.3m in extent and aimed to reach a depth on 0.6m. In situ burials were found in 5 of the test pits, centring on the area of the proposed carpark at north-east, but also along the northern boundary. In all, disarticulated human remains were found in 9 of the 13 test pits, only absent from test pits along the western boundary. Two test pits, at the north-west corner, indicated some archaeological deposits but these were difficult to interpret within the key-hole pits that were opened. A single artefact, a probable hone stone, was recovered from here (Test Pit G). Only at the south-west and east was it found that the test pits reached the required depth without encountering archaeological remains (Test Pits I, J and M).

The findings of this test excavation will inform the OPW and help form mitigation strategies for subsequent works at the site.

Munster Archaeology, Upper Kilmoney Rd, Carrigaline, Co. Cork