County: Roscommon Site name: Liberty
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RO054-019 Licence number: 17E0344
Author: Dominic Delany
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 595306m, N 733935m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.355606, -8.070510
Pre-development testing was carried out on the site of a proposed dwelling at Liberty, Co. Roscommon on 3 August 2017. The site is located within the area of constraint for RO054-019 (Castle), which comprises the remains of the featureless north-east corner of a rectangular structure (dims 8.6m east-west by 6.5m), with traces of the south and west walls visible beneath a rubble cairn. The castle is named 'Liberty Castle' on Ordnance Survey maps and the first edition map shows a small settlement immediately south of the castle.
Six test trenches were opened on the footprint of the development. Testing revealed 0.4m of dark grey/brown sandy silt topsoil over light orange/brown clay and tan silty sand and gravel. There was evidence of ground disturbance, particularly on the higher ground in the east of the site, a result of previous field improvement works according to the landowner. Eight sherds of post-medieval pottery were recovered during monitoring. The pottery dates from the 18th/19th century and is probably associated with the pre-famine settlement. No archaeological features or deposits were found.
Dominic Delany & Associates, Creganna, Oranmore, Co. Galway
