County: Dublin Site name: Rathcoole ETNS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: NA Licence number: 24E1200
Author: Declan Moore
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 702530m, N 726621m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.279986, -6.462538
A programme of archaeological testing was carried out of a proposed development at Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. The proposed development involves constructing a school building and associated infrastructure on a greenfield site with a surface area of 1.8 hectares, in the southeast of Rathcoole.
The project area for the proposed school is located southeast of Rathcoole village. The land for the proposed school is the south of Coolamber Drive, between Rathcoole Woodland to the west and Rathcoole Park to the east, in an area formerly known as Broadmore Commons, which is marked as ‘commons’ on maps dating back to the 17th century.
There are no recorded archaeological monuments within the area, though 14 monuments on the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) are located within 1km; the nearest RMP sites are a church, graveyard and associated monuments, which are approximately 150m to the north. The northern tip of the project area crosses the areas of archaeological potential associated with Rathcoole settlement.
A cultural heritage assessment of the proposed development site was completed by William Anderson in December 2023[1]. The assessment recommended that testing of the site be carried out well in advance of construction.
A subsequent request for further information (Item 9) requested an archaeological impact assessment be completed and that it should include a programme of Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Archaeological Test Excavation.
A geophysical survey was conducted by J. M. Leigh Surveys Ltd. at the site in October 2024 (Licence Number: 24R0264). There were no responses of potential archaeological interest. Modern ferrous responses litter the data set. Magnetic disturbance along the northern extent of the survey is modern in origin. Further magnetic disturbance along the southern extent results from the adjacent metal fence.
The stratigraphy encountered was consistent throughout the site and comprised topsoil and sod up to 400mm in depth throughout. This overlays a mid-brown to yellowish compact natural subsoil which was present throughout the site. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.
3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway
