Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on slight W-facing slope, immediately W of the townland boundary with Attyflin, to immediate N, E and W of Killasragh children’s burial ground (LI021-025002-) and a trackway (LI021-025003----). Excavations on the N20, 50m to the E, revealed an enclosure, a trackway and field system (LI021-025003; LI021-025----). Site visited by Celie O’Rahilly in 1990, during field work for the proposed N20, and described as ‘a complex of earthen and stone linear mounds some of which appear to be boundaries and some of which may be structural’ located to the N and W of the children’s burial ground (LI021-025002-) and ‘extending over the greater part of the field’.
Present remains consists of a large area with a series of low undulations and low profile linear earthen banks (H 0.3-0.6m) forming several rectangular shaped paddocks or enclosures with a possible medieval road to W which appear to form the remains of a deserted medieval settlement site. This complex series of earthworks are visible on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-12. Three of the most prominent features of this complex were surveyed in 2000 and described as following; Feature 1 which was described as an enclosure with annex, located 7.5m W of the children's burial ground (LI021-025002-) consisted of a slightly raised rectangular shaped area (dims. 36.5m N-S x 22m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 6.3m; H int. 0.3m; ext. 0.4m). The interior is level and clear of overgrowth. Immediately N of this enclosure there is a smaller rectangular annex (dims. 10m N-S x 14m E-W) defined by a similar earthen bank with a level interior. Feature 2 was described as a field system N of the enclosure (Feature 1), consisting of three parallel earthen banks (dims. L 30m; Wth 5.4m; H 0.4m-0.5m) which merge on the E side, forming an elongated shape enclosure roughly aligned E-W. The banks are low in profile but have irregular humps near the W end. To the NE of the children’s burial ground (LI021-25002-) there is Feature 3 which is the remains of a partial enclosure, consisting of a roughly L-shaped length of earthen bank that may be a partial enclosure or a relic field bank. The earthworks of this settlement site are visible on the Google Earth orthoimage taken in 2020. Numerous banks and features are visible to the W, S and E on the OSi orthoimage taken 2005-2012 and on Digital Globe orthophotos taken 2011-13.

See attached sketch plan of three features surveyed and drawn by Mark Keegan

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 21 July 2020

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.

O'Rahilly, C. 1991 Archaeological report on Limerick to Adare Road. Unpublished report submitted to Limerick County Council.

Eogan, J. 1998 Attyflin; Medieval (?moated site). In I. Bennett (ed. ) Excavations 1997: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 111, No. 327. Bray, Wordwell.