2025:308 - Castle Street, Ashbourne, Meath

It is proposed to apply for planning permission for development at the Castle Street and Killegland Street site in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, which extends to c. 0.416ha. Due to the fact that the proposed development is within the zone of notification associated with the settlement cluster ME045-071—-, the planners, by way of a request for further information, requested that the applicant carry out archaeological testing of the site under the supervision of a suitably qualified and licensed archaeologist.
In response, a phase of archaeological testing took place to cover the footprint of the development, via seven machine-dug test trenches of varying lengths, spaced at intervals across the site. The work was carried out over two days, 1 and 7 July 2025.
Seven trenches were opened across the site, three in the area to the south, which from the evidence of historic photographs, had been a works compound in the relatively recent past, and four further trenches opened within the gardens of Castle Street house.
The results from the testing in the old works compound suggested that the area had been previously topsoil stripped, presumably prior to it being used as a works area. Evidence for this consisted of either redeposited topsoil, at the south end, or foundation deposits associated with the tarmacadam surface, resting directly on undisturbed subsoil. Evidence from the testing suggests that this episode of stripping had removed any significant archaeological deposits from this area, should they ever have existed.
The four trenches within the garden did not produce any evidence for significant archaeology either. The area to the west of the house was badly disturbed by modern ‘live’ services and the area to the east had suffered badly from tree root disturbance. There was also an area, south of the house, which showed evidence for further recent disturbance in the form a dump of concrete slabs, breeze blocks and plastic sheeting. Nonetheless, it was possible to conclude that, as nothing of archaeological significance was located in the areas between the disturbance, it is highly likely that the construction of the house, with its associated services, access and landscaping, had removed any significant archaeological deposits from this area, should they ever have existed.