2020:403 - Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin

Monitoring took place between May-October 2020 of all groundworks within four areas (Areas 1-4) at the proposed new Garda headquarters at Military Road, Dublin.
Archaeological monitoring was also conducted during the excavation of trenches associated with temporary works (fencing and piling) at Trenches 1-22.
The site is within the zone of archaeological potential for DU018-020 (Historic Town: Dublin South City, Dublin North City), and is located within the 'Zone of Archaeological Interest' in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016–2022. The Deer Park wall, Protected Structure No. 5246, defines the eastern boundary of the site for a length of 205m. This wall was built in the 17th century to enclose the parklands on the southern side of the River Liffey, originally dividing the property belonging to Dr Steeven’s hospital on the south and the Royal Infirmary on the north. The site is also in close proximity to two further protected structures; the East Gate Lodge of the Royal Hospital (RPS No. 5245) to the south and the Royal Hospital (Kilmainham) complex (RPS No. 8731) to the north.
Archaeological testing was previously carried out by Claire Walsh under licence number 02E0067 in February 2002 when 12 test trenches were excavated within the site and directly to the west. In general, the soil covering the site was very thin and the natural subsoil was present below modern stratigraphy with very few 18th-century garden soils remaining. An Early Bronze Age food vessel, complete with cremation, was identified in a trench west of the site. Further archaeological testing was also carried out by Ian Russell under licence number 18E0173 in March-April 2019 when a total of 15 test trenches were excavated and the excavation of 15 test pits was archaeologically monitored. The sod and topsoil (C1) measured an average of 0.5m in thickness and lay above a thick layer of mid-brown sandy clay garden soils (C3), which lay above the natural orange sandy clay and stone (C4). No archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified, and no finds were recovered.
Monitoring within Areas 1-4 and Trenches 1-21 revealed that the sod and topsoil (C1) measured an average of 0.4m in thickness and lay above a layer of mid-brown sandy clay garden soils (C3), which lay above the natural orange sandy clay and stone (C4). The dark brown organic clay (C9) identified at the base of Area 3 is most likely part of the original flood plain of the adjacent river. No archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified, and no finds were recovered.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth