County: Offaly Site name: Townparks, Birr
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0525
Author: Denis Shine - Irish Heritage School/CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Non-archaeological significance
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 605542m, N 704789m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.093660, -7.917259
On behalf of Birr Trust Company, archaeological testing was undertaken in advance of a planning application for a proposed development of four stand-alone eco cabins together with associated water treatment systems and ancillary site services in Townparks, County Offaly. The work was undertaken as archaeological reconnaissance following a request for further information from the planning office.
The site is located in Birr Castle Estate in a large open pasture field immediately south of the ‘parkland’ portion of Birr Castle Demesne. The field is approximately 4 hectares in size, although the development itself is limited to four very discreet areas of impact close to the field's northern and western boundaries; two additional areas have also been identified for percolation tests. The archaeological testing was undertaken to determine the presence or absence of archaeological remains on site, given the field's proximity to significant archaeological sites such as Birr Castle (OF035-012004-), the site of the medieval Black Castle (OF035-012010), ‘Tuck Mill’ (OF35-012017-) and Brendan’s Well (OF035-012005); Birr Castle Demesne is also located to the immediate southeast of the Historic Town of Birr (OF035-012----).
Archaeological testing took place on 24 August 2022 when six test trenches were excavated, amounting to a total of 105.8 linear meters. The testing revealed no archaeological features or artefacts. Considering both the absence of recorded archaeological deposits, and the almost zero ground disturbance of the proposed development, no further archaeological mitigation is recommended for the site.
Johns Hall, Birr, Co. Offaly
