2025:453 - Portarlington Flood Relief Scheme, Cooltedery, Laois

Licensed archaeological monitoring was undertaken in association with geotechnical investigation works carried out as part of the Portarlington Flood Relief Scheme. The works were undertaken under Licence Nos. 24R0483 and 24E1021 (Extension) and comprised the monitoring and/or inspection of ground investigation logs for boreholes, trial pits, observation pits and windowless sample pits across Portarlington town and its environs.

The majority of the investigation locations were situated within the Zone of Notification for the historic 17th-century town of Portarlington (LA005-031001), an area of high archaeological potential associated with the planned fortified town and its defences. Archaeological monitoring was carried out intermittently between January and June 2025.

In most locations, groundworks revealed modern topsoil and made ground overlying natural alluvial, fluvial or glacial deposits associated with the River Barrow floodplain. Peaty and organic-rich layers were recorded intermittently, and occasional fragments of unworked wood were noted at depth within waterlogged deposits, particularly in low-lying areas adjacent to the river. These deposits are interpreted as consistent with natural floodplain and riverine depositional processes.

No archaeological features, structures or artefacts of archaeological significance were identified during the monitoring works.