County: Laois Site name: Clonaslee
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0100
Author: Ruth Elliott
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 631702m, N 710797m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.146741, -7.526108
Murphy International Ltd. were appointed main contractor for improvement works to the Tullamore Water Supply Scheme being undertaken by Irish Water. Works included upgrading the water treatment plant at Clonaslee, Co. Laois. Archaeological monitoring was a condition of planning permission (16/220) further to an archaeological screening report (John Cronin & Associates, 2016) which concluded the site was of moderate archaeological potential and close to the fording point from which the town of Clonaslee originated.
The site, less than a hectare in area, was located on the border between the townlands Bunastick and Clonaslee on the southern outskirts of Clonaslee Village. It was bounded by the Clodiagh River to the west. A ‘Water Works’ had been built in the location by the early 1900s and the existing water treatment plant was constructed in the 1970s.
Monitoring of topsoil stripping was carried out on 22 and 23 March 2019. This took place within grass verges to the south and west of the treatment plant. Topsoil was 0.3m deep and comprised a mid-orangey brown, silty clay. Natural subsoil was revealed at a depth of 0.3m. Two linear drainage features, orientated east-west, were uncovered crossing Area 1 in the direction of the river. No archaeological finds, features or deposits were uncovered.
Murphy International Limited, Great Connell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, W12 HD61
