Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Not marked on the 1841 edition of the OS 6-inch map. No visible surface remains.
Archaeological testing by Martin Byrne in 1998 at Broomville Gardens Nat. Grid Ref. 248047 199176 under licence no 98E0460 was undertaken at a proposed housing development in the townland of Ballyroan, on the eastern outskirts of Portlaoise, in compliance with a condition included in a grant of planning. The work was undertaken on 3 October 1998. The development site lies in the general environs of a holy well (SMR13:43) and an enclosure site (SMR13:44). Seven trenches, ranging from 38m to 110m long and c. 1.2 m wide, were opened by mechanical excavator. All were confined to the construction areas of the site. No features, structures or finds of archaeological interest were uncovered, and it was therefore recommended that no further archaeological involvement was required (Bennett 2000, 124-5).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 17 December 2007