2019:108 - Townparks, Roscrea, Tipperary

Ground works were monitored for a total of eleven heritage signs in Roscrea town. No archaeological remains were uncovered in the monitored openings. The works, on behalf of Tipperary County Council, were part of the regeneration of Roscrea urban centre with the heritage signs fulfilling orientation and interpretative functions. With the exception of one sign, all were within the ZAP for Roscrea town (TN012-010). Two signs, Nos 1 and 5, were very close to National Monuments, Roscrea castle and round tower respectively.

Excavations in two of the bases were kept deliberately shallow: No. 5 to a depth of 0.38m and No. 10 to 0.34m below the footpath's surface. Within No. 5 - close to the round tower - a layer of terram, which may have been protecting service utilities or previously exposed archaeological remains - was found at the base of the opening, whilst masonry was found at the base of No. 10 which was situated on the opposite side of the carriageway to the fifteenth-century Franciscan Abbey. Nothing of significance was found in the other nine openings.

In two openings earlier tarred surfaces were encountered dominating the lower levels of the openings whilst within another (No. 3) a possible stone kerb was encountered 0.25m below the present footpath's surface. The area where this opening was sited comprised a ramped footpath bounded by a retaining wall on the street side and 0.7m above the level of the carriageway (Main Street). Sign No. 1, which was located 2.2m out from the castle, extended to a depth of 0.37m with a moderately compact, mixed yellowish brown sandy clay dominating the bottom 0.2m/0.22m of the base. Other than moderate amounts of small angular stone and crushed mortar, it contained no other inclusions.

The remaining openings were dominated by modern infill in the lower levels.

17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary