County: Wexford Site name: Coláiste Bríde, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0475
Author: Damian Shels, Abarta Heritage Ltd
Site type: Battlefield
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 697758m, N 640037m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.503085, -6.559958
The excavation consisted of a licensed archaeological metal detection survey (Detection Device Consent Number 21R0181) undertaken as part of a pre-planning archaeological examination of lands at Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Following the success of the archaeological programme of works undertaken on the Vinegar Hill battlefield as part of Wexford County Council's Longest Day Research Project (Excavation License No. 17E0206/Detection Device Consent No. 17R0079) the same project team was assembled to undertake these works, and represented a collaboration between Abarta Heritage Ltd and Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd.
The survey was undertaken in the grounds of Coláiste Bríde in order to assess the battlefield archaeology potential of a c. three-acre area surrounding the school, in advance of a planning application for an extension to same.
The work was carried out under the direction of Damian Shiels of Abarta Heritage Services Ltd, assisted by Archaeological Detection Supervisor Sam Wilson of Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. and Archaeological Surveyor Jonathan Millar, also of Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. Specialist analysis of the recovered artefacts was undertaken by small-finds specialist Ewelina Rondelez of Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd.
The survey took place over two days on the 25-26 August 2021. The methodology employed for the Longest Day Research Project was also adopted here. Each detectorist walked 5m transects. Each of the transects was individually numbered. All transects were marked out prior to the survey, utilising GPS to insure accuracy. Only high performance metal detectors were utilised. While all hits were investigated, only those in the topsoil were retrieved. These were flagged, bagged and numbered, with the finds from each section being kept separate. Each findspot was marked with a flag - the Surveyor then surveyed in the findspot using GPS.
All suspected archaeologist artefacts recovered were retained and removed from site for assessment and analysis. All recording, cleaning, storage and conservation of finds was in accordance with National Museum of Ireland guidelines.
No finds relating to the 1798 battle or of notable archaeological significance were identified at the site. Substantial quantities of modern material relating to the use of the location as a school were encountered, most notably in the form of contemporary coinage. In addition a small number of late 19th- and early 20th-century metal artefacts likely associated with instances of loss which occurred in the field during its previous agricultural use were recovered. A total of eight metal finds were retained, though all are of modern date.
The results of the licensed metal detection survey demonstrated that there are no significant deposits of archaeological material in the upper topsoil levels at Coláiste Bríde. The profile of the material identified make it apparent that significant modification occurred to these greenfield areas during previous construction phases at Coláiste Bríde in the 20th century, and that significant topsoil movement occurred. As a consequence, no material of 1798 date—or of other archaeological significance—appears to survive within this layer, and none was discovered during the survey. There remains the potential that archaeological material survives at a greater depth.
10 Seaview, Rostellan, Midleton, Co. Cork
