2022:876 - O’Shea's Building at Balbriggan Harbour, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring was carried out intermittently, between November 2021 and February 2022 during the demolition works of the O’Sheas Building at Balbriggan Harbour. Monitoring of groundworks identified several phases of construction related to the original Salt House. The most recent structure, a 20th-century pub, incorporated features from the historic Salt House, namely the two gable walls (Gable A and B) representing respectively the south-eastern and north-western gable walls. These walls were built using stone-blocks alternated with irregular red brick courses and both walls had a central window surrounded by red bricks. Excavation of the modern ground level uncovered the remains of an historic red brick and tile floor surface which may represent the original Salt House flooring. Two phases of this floor were identified during the investigation: the upper, most recent phase, built in red brick and tiles and, underlying it, another surface built exclusively in red brick and lying directly over the natural clay subsoil. Thick layers of salt had solidified between the tiles and the surface below. A linear red brick drain crossed this floor surface and almost certainly represents a water run-off drain. The limited remains of the salt house were identified and fully recorded during this phase of works.

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