County: Westmeath Site name: Ballindurrow, Multyfarnham
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0272
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 640188m, N 763949m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.623813, -7.392502
Archaeological test trenching was carried out at Ballindurrow, Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath. The site lies within a grassed field adjacent to and to the south of Main Street and to the west of the River Gaine, in Multyfarhham town. There are no monuments located within the site as listed in the Record of Monuments and Places or Sites and Monuments Record. However, the site is located c. 13m to the west of the zone of archaeological potential associated with the sub-triangular shaped graveyard WM006-061001-; the graveyard itself is located 50m to the east. A medieval church WM006-061----is associated with the graveyard and contained within the grounds. Both monuments are marked on the 1836 map as 'burying ground' and 'St Andrew's Chapel' respectively. A Castle-motte WM007-072---- is located c. 150m to the north-east of the site. A castle is depicted in Multyfarnham, on the Down Survey Map of 1654-8, and registered as an unlocated medieval castle site WM006-060. The site is partially located within the conservation area described as ‘village core to the west of the River Gaine’ in the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027.
There are no Protected Structures contained within the site as listed in the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 nor sites listed within the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). The nearest such structure is a freestanding cast-iron water pump (RPS ID. 006-017, NIAH Reg. No 15304017) located c. 74m north-east of the site.
Test trenching was carried out on 4 May 2022. A total of three test trenches were excavated. Each trench measured 1.8m in width and a combined length of 121m was excavated. The topsoil was removed onto a grey silty stony clay mixed with orange/brown boulder clay. No features of archaeological significance were identified, and no finds of archaeological significance were recovered.
All on-site investigations are complete and no further works are required.
Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth. A92 DH99.
