2024:574 - Athlone Main Drainage, Lower Shannon Crossing, Athlone, Westmeath

As part of the Athlone Main Drainage project, archaeological monitoring was undertaken during the construction of new sewers at Deerpark Road in Doovoge townland through Athlone Showgrounds in Athlone & Bigmeadow townland and, across the River Shannon to the east bank, in Burgess Park in Golden Island (Kilmaine) townland.

Archaeological monitoring of the works was undertaken intermittently between May 2023 and March 2024.

The left (east) bank of the River Shannon is the location of a new pumping station and also the site of a launch/reception pit for the sewer that was placed by directional drilling beneath the River Shannon. The ground here was entirely modern and had been the location of the town dump in the second half of the 20^th century. Modern refuse was observed to a depth of at least 5m. No archaeological material was evident.

The right (west) bank of the River Shannon was the location of the launch pit for the sub-Shannon sewer. The works took place within a compound that had already been archaeologically monitored. No archaeological material was seen in this re-used compound.

The upcast/tailings from the sub-Shannon bore were examined. This material was light grey silt with some gravel and was essentially a liquid clay. The material derived from 3-7m beneath the riverbed and results in fine particles of 1-5mm across due to the action of an impeller. No archaeological material was expected from beneath the riverbed and none was observed.

The insertion of a sewer westwards from the pit at the south side of Deerpark Road was also by directional drilling and no archaeological material was observed.

To summarise no archaeological features deposits or artefacts were observed during the monitoring.