County: Leitrim Site name: Port
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LE027-065, Licence number: 18E0591 Ext
Author: Tamlyn McHugh, Fadó Archaeology
Site type: Castle - unclassified
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 595466m, N 803416m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.979994, -8.069121
Archaeological monitoring was carried out at Port, Co. Leitrim. The proposed development works entailed the restoration, extension and change of use of an existing granary building. The proposed development encompassed an area of 3.45acres/1.4 hectares.
The development is in the vicinity of, and within, the Zone of Archaeological Potential for a Castle, unclassified, RMP LE027-065, known as Port Shan Castle. The Archaeological Survey of Ireland recorded that "there are no visible remains of a castle at ground level”. However, Pre-Planning Archaeological and Architectural Assessments (Markley 2013) of the upstanding buildings at the proposed site noted potential medieval fabric associated with an early castle at the site. These are as follows: 1) North & north-west Boundary Wall/Outbuilding/Cow Byre. 2) Stables/Granary 3) Walled Garden north, east & south walls.
Archaeological pre-development testing took place on 13 October 2018 following a request from Leitrim Planning Department. Test trenches were excavated at various locations where groundworks were proposed. A burnt mound was noted east of the castle during testing. It was recommended that any future development at the site be subject to archaeological monitoring.
Archaeological monitoring took place over the course of three days at various dates between 2021-2023. The area was mechanically cleared of any surface material in the footprint of the former piggery, the stone stairs and shed adjacent to the granary, and the floor surface within the granary. No features, deposits or artefacts of an archaeological nature were noted during monitoring.
Reference:
Markley S. 2013. Pre-Planning Archaeological & Architectural Impact Assessment for a proposed mixed development at Port Townland, Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim. North West Archaeological Services. Unpublished report.
Cooldrumman Upper, Carney, Co. Sligo
