2024:691 - Coláiste Abhainn Rí (St Brigid’s College), Flaggy Lane, Callan North, Callan, Kilkenny

Archaeological test-excavations were carried out on 14 May 2024, in relation to the construction of a proposed extension to the school at Coláiste Abhainn Rí, in the grounds of St Brigid’s College, Callan, Co. Kilkenny.

The southern portion of the site falls within the Zone of Notification (Zone ID: R187003) for the historic town of Callan (KK026-010—-).

Prior to test-excavations a geophysical (Electromagnetic Induction) survey was carried out under survey licence no.  24R0029. The geophysical survey was focused on an area under gravel to the south-west of the main school buildings, which was to be used for the proposed school extension.

The geophysical survey identified a notable, large accumulation of anomalies to the north of the surveyed area, just outside (and north of) the Zone of Notification for Callan. This accumulation of anomalies corresponds to the former location of structures shown on historic Ordnance Survey maps, as well as the former location of a modern school building (i.e. former 1970’s era boarding school). It was interpreted that this accumulation of anomalies is more likely to be associated with the demolition of the modern school building and subsequent surface levelling/contouring, rather than representing evidence of the earlier historic buildings shown on Ordnance Survey maps. The geophysical survey also identified a modern drain and multiple manholes in the southern portion of the site, within the Zone of Notification for Callan. Further isolated small anomalies in the southern portion of the site were visible on the surface as modern stone or rubble deposits, and could therefore be interpreted as generally relating to modern disturbance. These included a small cluster of anomalies in the centre of the site, which could represent small pit-type features, but which were interpreted as more likely relating to modern disturbance and or stone/rubble deposits visible in this area.

Test-excavation comprised of a total of 6 trenches being excavated using a mechanical digger with a flat grading bucket. Trench width was consistently 2.2m wide, with variable trench lengths and depths. Trench depths were subject to the level of made ground or overburden, which varied across the site, there being a noticeable variance between the sloping and rising nature of the ground to the northern part of the site and the level and lower-lying southern part of the site. The modern ground surface comprises a very shallow layer (c. 0.02m deep) of rounded pea gravel or chip, above either re-deposited soil or demolition debris.

Trench excavation ceased once potential archaeological features or deposits were exposed, which was largely across the level, lower-lying southern part of the site, or where the floor and foundation remains of the demolished modern boarding school building were encountered on the sloping and rising ground to the northern part of the site. It was not possible to remove the floor and foundation remains of the former boarding school, to access what lay beneath, as the remains extended to either side of trenches and lifting would have undermined a deep redeposit of demolition debris that now overlays the remains. The former boarding school building was constructed onto a natural substrate, described as a light orange-brown or yellow-brown till.

The nature of the archaeological features or deposits exposed relate to the historic buildings that formerly stood at the site, likely remains associated with Callan Lodge, and certainly with the range of education-related buildings that developed pre- and post- the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy to Callan in 1872. The structural remains exposed, essentially lime-mortared limestone or red brick walls, and both internal and external cobble surfaces, are at relatively shallow depths, from c. 0.2m below the present ground surface (up to between 0.7–0.85m below the surface). In places, damaged concrete surfaces appear to be later than the cobbled surfaces, and likely once formed a former yard surface within, or abutting, the ranges of school buildings that once stood at the site.

None of the structural remains of the historic buildings formerly standing on the site could be correlated directly to the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey.

No objects were retrieved to assist with dating the exposed structural remains.