2019:592 - Drogheda Garda Station (Security Area), Drogheda, Louth

A programme of archaeological test trenching was carried out in the townland of Moneymore at Drogheda Garda Station (Security Area), Drogheda, Co. Louth. The site is located partially on the footprint of the site of the Abbey and Hospital of St. Mary d’Urso (LH024-04011-). The site is also within the Area of Special Archaeological Interest (AR12) as defined by Louth County Development Plan 2015-2021. Testing was carried under a Section 14 Ministerial Consent C000953, in compliance with conditions set down by the National Monuments Service in relation to the Part 9 notification from the Office of Public Works regarding the proposed development. The site is located along the western side of the existing Garda Station site, to the north of the River Boyne and adjacent to and to the east of Fr Connolly Way.

The proposed development site is part of an area that was previously subjected to a significant amount of excavation. Archaeological work has previously been carried out here by Eoin Halpin in 1989 and Donald Murphy in 1995, and as a result of these investigations, almost the entire layout of the abbey buildings are known.

The area that was tested was originally part of a proposed public area; however the public aspect has been omitted and as a result now lies outside of the development footprint of the security area. The development as now proposed will include new security perimeter railings and access gates on the site of the existing entrance.

Testing took place, in September 2019, using a 3-tonne tracked excavator, of the originally proposed development footprint. Testing was limited due to the collapsing of the trenches (the result of made up-ground). A metal detector was used (R000514) to maximise the identification and retrieval of objects; however, no metal finds were recovered. Two test trenches were excavated across the line of a proposed new north-south wall footing and railing to the north of the security area. In total 6.4m of linear trenches were excavated. In general, the trenches revealed made ground to a depth of up to 2m (3.2m OD). Following removal of the made ground, undisturbed deposits were exposed; these were not excavated as the impact in the area was to be less than 1m in depth. No finds were recovered.

The proposed new security features are adjacent to the location of a number of human burials excavated by Eoin Halpin in 1989. These burials were exposed at an approximate height of 3.2m OD. Above this level, the deposits west of the abbey consisted of post-medieval made ground of little archaeological significance. The south-west corner of the cloister was previously excavated and recorded and remains buried in situ just inside the proposed new gate at an approximate level of 4.3m OD.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth.