2024:540 - Saint Canice’s Cathedral Close, Gardens, Coach Road, Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Archaeological monitoring of project works associated with the provision of improved outdoor interpretation within the grounds of Saint Canice’s Cathedral (KK019-026029-), in the townland of Gardens (St Canice’s Parish), in Kilkenny City, was carried out on 12 November 2024.

The management at Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, with funding through the Community Monuments Fund (CMF), and working with Tandem (interpretation design consultancy), as part of an interpretation plan for the Saint Canice’s site, was replacing pre-existing outdoor interpretation, and provided for the provision of two additional small, single-post outdoor lecterns in the Cathedral graveyard (KK019-026171-).

The two additional lecterns offer information on historical buildings around the site, namely Saint Canice’s Library and the Bishop’s Palace; their installation was the subject of the archaeological monitoring.

The cutting for the Saint Canice’s Library interpretation lectern was opened through the sod, c. 1m to the west of the existing path. The excavation was c. 0.1m deep. Below the sod was a deposit of mid-brown, slightly sandy clay with small rounded stones and gravel. Excavation ceased on top of this deposit.

The cutting for the Bishop’s Palace interpretation lectern was up to 0.05m deep. Modern compacted gravel was removed.  This gravel continued below the base of excavation.

No archaeological deposits or features were uncovered. No archaeological objects were present.