2023:521 - Chapel Avenue, Irishtown, Dublin 4, Dublin

A programme of archaeological test-trenching was undertaken at a proposed development site at Chapel Avenue (lands also known as 1a St Mary's Terrace, Bath Street, Dublin 4), Irishtown, Co. Dublin. As depicted on the RMP mapping the site lies within the Archaeological Constraint of a Recorded Monument (DU018-054; Settlement Cluster - Irishtown). Two other Recorded Monuments are located c.100m to the south of the site: a church (DU018-054001-) and a graveyard (DU018-054002-).

Archaeological test excavations of three trenches (T1, T2 and T2A) were carried out at the site to investigate the archaeological potential and establish the ground conditions in an area of known land reclamation. Works were undertaken over two days commencing 23 February 2023.

The proposed development was located within a small, enclosed site measuring c.192m². The archaeological test-trenches measured a total of sixteen linear metres (1.8m wide) equating to c.15% of the total site. The three test-trenches were located in the centre of the site and in a crosshair shape following the general outline of the proposed piling scheme for the development.

Works established that the original shore level was 1.1–1.3m below ground level and that the ground had been built up to its current level with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century material and covered with mid twentieth-century material. No finds or features of an archaeological nature were uncovered during the test-trenching.

Proposed development works comprised service reconnections, ground reduction of the existing tarmacked yard and a piling programme along the footprint of the proposed structure. It was established that these works would take place within modern levels and lower eighteenth-/nineteenth-century reclamation soils. No further archaeological works were recommended for the site.

c/o AMS, Fahy's Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare