County: Clare Site name: Church of the Immaculate Conception, Barefield or Gortlumman, Barefield
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0173
Author: Kate Taylor
Site type: Church
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 536140m, N 682260m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.887420, -8.948903
Test trenching was undertaken at the site of a proposed community room adjacent to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Barefield or Gortlumman, Barefield, Co. Clare. The current church is located immediately adjacent to the site of the previous 19th-century chapel building which is now not visible at ground level but which is indicated on historic maps.
Three test trenches were excavated across the area that could potentially be used to house the proposed new building. This revealed the below-ground remains of the former chapel that stood immediately to the east of the current building. This chapel is likely to be early 19th century in date.
Whilst the chapel remains are unlikely to be of any great antiquity, the building is of local historical significance. It is therefore recommended that, as far as is possible, the new building be positioned to avoid the footprint of the old chapel building. Where the new building foundations and associated groundworks (including service trenches) will impact on the chapel remains, it is recommended that these be excavated and recorded to a level that is appropriate to their relatively recent date.
TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare
