Bypass Bronze Age find
TWO burnt mound sites from the Bronze Age have been discovered in ground excavated during construction of the New Ross Bypass.
James Eogan, Senior Archaeologist with Transport Infrastructure Ireland said archaeologists from Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC) have been carrying out archaeological monitoring of construction works in various locations along the New Ross Bypass since July 2016.
The two burnt mound sites, which date to the Bronze Age between 2500 and 4000 years ago, were found in areas of poorly drained land, one in Landscape and the other to the northeast of Lacken Hill.
The Landscape site was located beside the Camlin Stream and consisted of a low mound of heat-shattered stone approximately 10 metre in diameter. The mound covered a rectangular pit or trough which had been lined with split oak planks, some of which survived due to the waterlogged conditions. The sites have been identied as fulacht fia, cooking areas.
The timber-lined trough would have been filled with water which would have been heated by adding stones heated in a fire.
The site investigated in Lacken may be an example of a Bronze Age sweat lodge or sauna. The burnt mound here was twice as big as the Landscape example, located on a slight knoll in an area close to a number of fresh water springs. ater source.
Archaeological monitoring of construction works is continuing and the post-excavation analysis and reporting on the sites excavated is under way. Friends and family of Frank Kelly from Liam Mellows Park arrived in droves to the Wexford Golf Club to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Frank, originally from Corish Park, had a great night out and received many gifts, vouchers and money from his friends and family.
His daughter Joan McGuire said he got a framed old newspaper from the year he was born from one of his grandchildren.
‘My father loves to dance, so for his birthday we organised a band that played some classics. He danced the night away,’ said Joan.
Everyone at the party enjoyed refreshments, which included some hot food and a freshly baked cream cake from Joannes in Wexford.
All of his children were delighted to celebrate his 90th birthday. Frank has five sons – Geoffry, Patrick, Paul, Francis and Tony, and five daughters – Joan McGuire, Anne-Marie Fitzgerald, Treasa Dalton, Lydia Brazzil and Rosemary Eglington.
Joan said: ‘Lydia had been living in Australia for five years, so she was really happy to be a part of the celebration. And Rosemary travelled from Dingle with her husband Ben.’
There were more than 100 people at the party, including Frank’s 30 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
‘Frank cited off a poem that had 40 verses. People could not get over the fact he remembered it all word-for-word. He did not even pause or stop to think about it,’ said Joan.
When Frank was in his early 20s, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) army and travelled to Germany.
His daughter Joan said he often talks about it, as it is a memory he will cherish forever.