2024:602 - Harold's Cross greyhound stadium, Harold's Cross Road, Haroldscross West, Dublin

A programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken at the former Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium site in advance of proposed redevelopment as a school. A previously unknown post-medieval well was identified and recorded close to the site entrance. A post-medieval masonry wall was also identified along the western site boundary, reused as the foundation of a building directly west of the site boundary. The masonry wall may be the remains of the former boundary wall to the rear of the properties fronting onto Harold’s Cross Road.

No remains of the building previously fronting onto Harold’s Cross Road to the west at the entrance to the site were identified and this must have been removed entirely when the entrance to the greyhound stadium was constructed in the 1920s.

Then remainder of the site was depicted as an orchard prior to the creation of the greyhound stadium. A deposit of made ground was identified across the site overlying a darker garden soil with early modern inclusions. These layers reflect the two latest phases of activity on the site. No earlier features were identified within the areas investigated.

[caption id="attachment_58022" align="alignnone" width="300"] View of masonry well identified along access lane to Harold's Cross school site[/caption]