2026:137 - Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, Rockingham Demesne, Boyle, Roscommon
County: Roscommon
Site name: Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, Rockingham Demesne, Boyle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 25E0642
Author: Antoine Giacometti
Author/Organisation Address: Archaeology Plan 129 North Strand D03 W8C1
Site type: Archaeological landscape
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 584519m, N 803932m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.984419, -8.236033
The Lough Key Forest Park is situated in an area of significant archaeological potential. In particular, the physical remains of the medieval and early modern periods from c. AD 500 to c. 1900 demonstrate the emergence of a landscape of Gaelic lordship which by the late medieval period had become centred economically and politically at Lough Key, but which also extended westwards to include Boyle Abbey.
Monitoring and testing works were carried out to inform the design of an upgrade to the Lough Key Forest & Activity Park. These identified two archaeological pits dating to 1459-1632 AD (cal 2Σ) below the church, alongside more recent activity across the park. The results informed an archaeological strategy for the project.