2021:268 - MOUNTGARRETT CASTLE, Wexford
County: Wexford
Site name: MOUNTGARRETT CASTLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX029-009
Licence number: 21E0627
Author: Colm Moriarty
Author/Organisation Address: The Hill, The Leap, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Site type: Castle - tower house
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 672450m, N 629471m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.411948, -6.935069
Archaeological monitoring of rubble movement was carried out at Mountgarrett Castle, New Ross, Co. Wexford on various dates in October 2021. The castle is a recorded monument (WX029-009) and historical records suggest that it was built c. AD 1408, at the behest of Bishop Patrick Barrett.
The rubble at the site represented material that had collapsed from the castle in recent years. No sub-surface excavation took place during these works and no intact archaeological horizons were encountered (only recent collapse material was excavated/moved).
The monitoring programme was carried out in conjunction with conservation works at the castle. These works were concentrated on the eastern wall of the castle and involved filling in masonry voids, tying in free-standing masonry elements and re-pointing degraded mortar joints.