2026:246 - Dunmore House, Laois
County: Laois
Site name: Dunmore House
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LA029-035, LA029- 035001
Licence number: 26E0009
Author: Barry Lacey
Author/Organisation Address: c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 641470m, N 679810m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.867593, -7.384078
Test trenching was carried out to inform a pre-planning impact assessment on a site partially situated within the zone of notification for a recorded monument, St Tachan’s Church and graveyard (LA029-035, LA029-035001). Archaeological testing was carried out over the course of two days from 12 January 2026 using a mechanical excavator fitted with a flat grading bucket. The trenches targeted the zone of notification for LA029-035, LA029- 035001, to fully investigate the archaeological potential of the site.
Historic mapping places the site within the grounds of Dunmore House on the banks of the River Nore. A 17th-century origin for Dunmore House (no longer extant) is considered possible. The early 19th-century maps show a large range of stables and outbuildings to the north of Dunmore House, of which a small number survive in varying condition. Given the extensive number of outbuildings in the yard it was anticipated that sub-surface remnants of foundations, floors and yard areas could survive and be exposed during testing.
No archaeological material associated with the church and graveyard was identified in any of the investigated test trenches. Several localised wall footings/foundations and cobbled/brick surfaces were identified during testing, however were not equating to the extensive range of buildings shown on the historic mapping. This suggests that most of the structures evident on the maps were completely demolished and removed from the landscape in the past. In addition, where structural elements do survive it was often difficult to accurately link them to illustrated outbuildings. Some outbuildings survive above ground in various states of repair – in ruins and one is still functional. There is some evidence of architectural fragments of arched doorways stored on the site, and one partial stone arch is in situ. The antiquity of these remains is unconfirmed as is the provenance of the material, which may come from the main house, or may be unrelated to the current site.