County: Offaly Site name: Ballyboy
Sites and Monuments Record No.: OF031-015001-; OF031-015002- and OF031-015003- Licence number: 22E0208
Author: Denis Shine - Irish Heritage School/ CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Motte and bailey
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 620260m, N 713905m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.175231, -7.696947
On behalf of Ballyboy Community Development Group, archaeological testing was undertaken as part of a pre-planning study (archaeological reconnaissance) for a proposed community centre, cark park, percolation area and site access at Ballyboy, County Offaly in advance of a planning application.
The site is located to the north of the village of Ballyboy in a large field in open pasture. The proposed development boundary encloses approximately 0.3 hectares and is located in the eastern portion of the field, bounded to the east by the Ballyboy Road. The proposed development is adjacent to a complex of medieval archaeological sites including Ballyboy Castle, site of (OF031-015001-); Ballyboy motte and bailey (OF031-015002-), and a medieval settlement cluster (OF031-015003-).
In order to assess the archaeological potential of the site, and to inform the testing array, a programme of geophysical survey was first undertaken by Dr Ger Dowling (Licence No.: 22R0109). The survey suggested that the site had been subjected to significant disturbance, but also identified subtle potential traces of what may be a c.40m-diameter circular enclosure directly north of the motte, outside the limits of the development.
Archaeological testing was completed in Ballyboy on 25 and 26 April 2022 when eight test trenches were excavated, amounting to a total of 197.5 linear meters. Testing indicated significant disturbance to the site in the early modern period including, but not limited to, field clearance, burning close to the site (probably related to the destruction of the adjacent ‘old village hall’ in 1967), general dumping and raising of the surface ground level.
No archaeological deposits were recorded during testing, with the exception of a small area of cobbling, which possibly dates to the 19th century. Despite the absence of recorded archaeological deposits it was recommended that groundworks should be subject to archaeological monitoring (where any proposed development works will involve ground disturbance) considering the immediate proximity of several medieval monuments.
Johns Hall, Birr, Co. Offaly
