2019:838 - Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme, Goldenisland (Kilmaine) 1, Athlone, Westmeath

The site was excavated as part of the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme, on the eastern bank of the River Shannon at the northern end of Burgess Park and the southern end of Wolfe Tone Terrace, essentially lying across the gateway into the park.
Part of a 19th-century slipway wall was revealed during monitoring (under licence 17E0516) of groundworks associated with construction of the flood relief barrier and was subsequently excavated and recorded.
The curving stone slipway wall was constructed c. 1850 during the Shannon Navigation works and first shown on the 1874 Ordnance Survey map. The excavation allowed an examination of the wall’s construction methodology. Approximately 28m of wall length was examined, revealing that it has one carefully constructed face composed of large well-cut limestone blocks. The wall was seen to a depth of 2m below the modern surface, however this was not the base of the wall and the foundation levels were not exposed. Part of the wall was removed during the excavation and thirteen of the large facing blocks were retained, along with seven further blocks from the wall that had been removed at the construction of Burgess Park in the late 19th century. The majority of the wall remains in situ beneath the park and footpath, with some parts incorporated into the flood defences.

Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare