2024:425 - Main Street, Elphin, Roscommon

The proposed development is located on the south side of Main Street, Elphin Co Roscommon. It was proposed to demolish the two existing buildings containing shop area and accommodation and to construct 2 no. two story dwellings in their place and to reconnect to public services together with all associated site works. It was also intended to open up access to the rear and create pedestrian access from the existing back lane.

Due to the proximity of the site of Elphin Cathedral (RO016-127001-), the present boundaries of which are located some 15 m to the southeast, an archaeological impact assessment was carried out in September 2024, under license 22E0751.

The monitoring revealed that the development would appear to have been constructed on an area of garden soils. The recording of fragments of red brick within the sections exposed by the foundation trenches to the original walls of the buildings which existed on the site, suggests a relatively late date for these deposits. There was no evidence uncovered for any archaeological features or deposits associated with the Cathedral.

The proposed building design will preserve the surviving garden soil deposits in situ with the construction of the new floors above the levels of the soil, the reuse of the existing wall foundation trenches for the new walls and the reuse of existing service lines. Due to these factors it is recommended, subject to discussions with and the approval of the relevant heritage authorities, that development be allowed to proceed without the need for further archaeological involvement