2020:479 - 19-22 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring was carried out at 19-22 Kildare Street in response to planning conditions attached to the proposed development.

The development area is located within the zone of archaeological potential for the historic centre of Dublin City (DU018-020) although no recorded sub-constraints occur within the site footprint. There are eight recorded monuments situated in the vicinity, the nearest of which comprises a former bowling green (DU018-020181), c. 20m to the north.

Archaeological monitoring of ground disturbance was undertaken intermittently between September 2019 and January 2020. Following demolition of buildings in the rear plots of the houses fronting Kildare Street, ground investigations were monitored followed by monitoring of overall ground reduction in advance of piling operations.

Monitoring of groundworks concluded that historic excavation of sunken yards contemporary with the standing buildings had removed any archaeological horizons down to boulder clay in a strip extending c. 12m westwards from the rear of the buildings.

Several features were identified during the programme of monitoring within the development area. These included a cobbled yard surface (C4) presumably relating to a stable or mews area associated with the houses fronting Kildare Street. Several associated features were also identified, including two stone-floored structures (C9 and C10) and a drainage system (C5). A number of sherds of ceramic pottery were retrieved from the levelling clay beneath the yard and structures consisting of a 19th-century transfer printed possible creamware, glass, and clay pipe stems. The sherds of ceramic retrieved from the levelling clay beneath the yard and structures indicates a 19th-century date for the yard.

c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow