Moated site in Coolamurry

Situated at the base of a S-facing slope and with a W-E stream c. 50m to the S. Archaeological excavation (04E0326) in advance of roadworks on the Enniscorthy to New Ross road (N30) recorded almost an entire moated site as Coolamurry 7. It is a rectangular area (dims 35m E-W; 25m N-S) defined by wet moats (Wth 2-5m; max. D 2.2m) with a leat entering at the NW corner. It had internal banks partly preserved in field banks at E and S. Organic material and local pottery, including glazed wares, were recovered from the moats. The oak timbers of a wooden bridge that probably had an associated wooden gatehouse were found towards the W end of the N moat, at its widest point. Although unsuitable for dendrochronological dating the outer edges of one produced calibrated C14 dates of AD 1257-1386 (Eogan and Kelly 2016, 214-5). The interior was divided by a N-S channel with a metalled path leading from the bridge to the SW angle in the W part. Occupation in the E part was in the form of pits, stake-holes and sleeper or slot-trenches. (Fegan, G. 2007; 2009) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 3 July, 2012