County: Tipperary Site name: St. Ailbe’s Church, Emly
Sites and Monuments Record No.: TS065-013001 Licence number: 21E0598
Author: Niall Gregory
Site type: Suburban; no archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 576091m, N 634687m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.463103, -8.351837
The client, Fr. Moloney is undertaking landscaping works relating to the surface car park area, the forecourt and the surrounding footpaths at St. Ailbe's Church, a Protected Structure (RPS Ref. No. 50890), to comprise: (a) removal of existing concrete and tarmacadam surfaces; (b) new paving to the driveway, parking spaces and church forecourt; (c) new tarmacadam surface to side and rear paths around the church; (d) new external access ramp and steps to main front entrance; (e) associated greenery to parking area at St. Ailbe's Church, Main Street, Emly. Condition No. 5 of Planning Permission (Ref. 20824) specifies requirement for archaeological monitoring.
Phase 1 of the ground works have occurred between 18 October and 19 November 2021. This entailed box trench and sump excavation for drainage around the church building and repaving the steps at front entrance of the church. The trenches were 0.3m in width and up to 0.35m in depth. The sumps were 2m by 1.2m and up to 1.4m in depth. The stratigraphy was found to be 20th-century surface (tarmac or concrete), with underlying 20th-century building debris onto natural subsoil. The sumps comprised grass surface, with underlying humic clays onto natural subsoil.
No archaeology was encountered and the next phase is work is set to commence in early 2022.
Dunburbeg, Clonmel Road, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
