Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment of a ... - Windmill...

Moore Group October 2019

moore group – archaeological & environmental services – mooregroup.ie

Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment

of a Residential Development at

Windmill, Porterstown, Clonsilla,

Dublin 15

Prepared for John Spain and Associates

on behalf of Kimpton Vale Ltd

By Billy Quinn

Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Limited. T/A Moore Group

Registered in the Republic of Ireland - Registration Number: 341912

Registered Address: 3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland

Phone: +353 (0)91 765640

Web: www.mooregroup.ie

http://www.mooregroup.ie/


19073 Windmill, Porterstown, Co. Dublin

Moore Group Project Manager: Billy Quinn

Revision History

Revision Reference Date Issued Issued To

19073 CHA Windmill Rev2 18/06/2019 Client & Clients Representative



Contract

This report describes work commissioned by John Spain and Associates.

Report prepared by: Billy Quinn

Archaeological Consultant

Report reviewed by: Declan Moore

Archaeological Consultant

Purpose

This report describes the results of a cultural heritage desktop and walkover assessment of a

proposed residential Development at description of development at Windmill, Porterstown, County

Dublin. The results, conclusions and recommendations contained within this report are based on

information available at the time of its preparation. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure

that all relevant data has been collated, the author and Moore Group accept no responsibility for

omissions and/or inconsistencies that may result from information becoming available subsequent

to the reports completion. Moore Group accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made

of this document other than by the Client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned

and prepared.

Filename: 19073 CHA Windmill Rev 4 191009.docx



Non Technical Summary

MOORE GROUP was commissioned to complete a cultural heritage impact assessment of the potential impact

of a proposed residential development on lands at Windmill, Porterstown, Dublin 15.

This study aims to assess the baseline archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage environment

(hereafter referred to as cultural heritage environment or cultural heritage resource), to evaluate the potential

or likely impacts that the proposed development will have on this environment and, where appropriate, to

suggest mitigation measures to ameliorate potential impacts. Following on from this, the residual impact that

the proposed scheme will have on the baseline cultural heritage resource is identified and evaluated.

The assessment found that the proposed development does not directly impact on the Zone/s of Notification

for any archaeological sites or monuments nor does it impact on any Protected Structure or NIAH site. The site

up until recent years was undeveloped agricultural land with quarry pits to the south along the Royal Canal.

Since circa 2008 the site has been stripped of its top soil and used to store spoil dumps of builder’s fill. Based

on the condition of the site archaeological testing or monitoring would not be practical or worthwhile. It is

recommended that work proceeds with no further mitigation.

The above recommendations are subject to the approval of the National Monuments Service (Department

of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) and Fingal Council.



Contents

Non Technical Summary............................................................................................................................................. 3

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 7

1.1 Scope of Work ...............................................................................................................................................7

1.2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................7

1.3 Terms and Definitions ....................................................................................................................................9

1.4 Fingal County Development Plan 2017-2023 ........................................................................................ 10

1.5 Description of Project ................................................................................................................................ 10

2 Existing Environment ......................................................................................................................................... 13

2.1 Location Details .......................................................................................................................................... 13

2.2 Archaeological, Architectural and Historical Background ................................................................ 14

2.3 Archaeological Heritage .......................................................................................................................... 16

2.4 Architectural Heritage ............................................................................................................................... 33

2.5 Fieldwork ...................................................................................................................................................... 34

2.6 Potential Direct Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 40

2.7 Potential Impacts on setting .................................................................................................................... 41

3 Mitigation Measures and Residual Impacts ................................................................................................. 42

4 References and Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 42

4.1 OTHER SOURCES REFERENCED ................................................................................................................. 42

4.2 Electronic Sources ...................................................................................................................................... 43

5 Conventions, Directives and Legislation ...................................................................................................... 43

5.2 Legislation .................................................................................................................................................... 44

5.3 Other Policy Contexts and Guidelines ................................................................................................... 45

List of Figures

Figure 1 Site location, Extract from Discovery map. .............................................................................................11

Figure 2 Ordnance Survey map showing location of Proposed Development Area (PDA) ©OSI ...............12

Figure 3 Proposed site layout. ...................................................................................................................................12



Figure 4 Extract from ASI showing Porterstown site. ..............................................................................................13

Figure 5 Extract from RMP map 3195 showing subject area along the Royal Canal and north of the railway.

17

Figure 6 Showing the proposed development area and nearest RMP sites....................................................18

Figure 7 Porterstown from Rocque’s 1760 Survey of Dublin. ...............................................................................25

Figure 8 Porterstown between the bridges following construction of the Royal Canal, William Duncan

1821. 25

Figure 9 Extract from OS 6” first edition map showing subject site.....................................................................26

Figure 10 Extract from OS 25” third edition map showing subject site. ......................................................................26

Figure 11 Site during construction of the road and bridge to the west, note the southern strip of brown field

possibly being utilized for construction traffic. ................................................................................................................27

Figure 12 PDA as greenfield in 2005 ............................................................................................................................28

Figure 13 Condition of site April 2008. .........................................................................................................................28

Figure 14 Aerial image of the site ...............................................................................................................................29

Figure 15 Previous fieldwork in the vicinity of the PDA. ...........................................................................................32

Figure 16 Site showing stripped area and mounded material. .............................................................................35

List of Plates

Plate 1 Looking west to road embankment from access point shown on figure 15. ............................... 35

Plate 2 Looking south west towards bridge over Royal canal. ......................................................................... 36

Plate 3 Looking south east across site towards house at end of Sheepmoore lane. ............................... 36

Plate 4 Looking east north east to rear of Giraffe Childcare facility across stripped ground. ............... 37

Plate 5 Looking south east across site towards Station Court hall. .............................................................. 37

Plate 6 Looking south to Sheepmore Lane. ..................................................................................................... 38

Plate 7 Looking west across stripped ground from north east side of side. ............................................... 38

Plate 8 Looking west across the southern perimeter to mounded material. ............................................. 39

Plate 9 South east corner of site, stripped and covered with builders fill. ................................................. 39

Plate 10 Extent of mounded material along southern perimeter fence. ................................................ 40



Abbreviations

AAP Area of Archaeological Potential

ACA Architectural Conservation Areas

ASI Archaeological Survey of Ireland

DCHG Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

DLHG Demesne Landscapes and Historic Gardens

NIAH National Inventory of Architectural Heritage

NMI National Museum of Ireland

OSI Ordnance Survey Ireland

RMP Record of Monuments and Places

RPS Record of Protected Structures

SMR Sites and Monuments Record

Coordinate System

All GPS coordinates given in this report are in Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM).



1 Introduction

MOORE GROUP was commissioned by John Spain and Associates on behalf of Kimpton Vale Ltd. to complete

a cultural heritage impact assessment of the potential impact of a proposed residential development on lands

at Windmill, Porterstown, Dublin 15.

The PDA is located in the predominantly residential area of Clonsilla approximately 1.4km to the south of

Blanchardstown town centre. The site is bounded on the north by St. Mochta’s residential estate and by the

Royal Canal and the Dublin Sligo railway line to the south and to the east by the Station Court residential

development, which includes a Giraffe Childcare Centre. Internally the site has been stripped to natural

ground and the topsoil mounded along the southern perimeter.

The subject site does not contain any recorded monuments, unrecorded cultural heritage sites or protected

structures.

1.1 Scope of Work

This study aims to assess the baseline archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage environment

(hereafter referred to as cultural heritage environment or cultural heritage resource), to evaluate the potential

or likely impacts that the proposed development will have on this environment and, where appropriate, to

suggest mitigation measures to ameliorate potential impacts, in accordance with the policies of:

• Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht;

• The National Monuments Acts (1930-2005);

• Fingal County Development Plan; and

• Best practice guidelines.

Following on from this, the residual impact that the proposed scheme will have on the baseline environment

is identified and evaluated.

For the purposes of this report the definition of “cultural heritage” is taken broadly from the UNESCO

Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972, which considers the

following to be “cultural heritage”:

• Tangible cultural heritage;

• movable cultural heritage (artefacts);

• immovable cultural heritage (monuments, archaeological sites, etc);

• underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities); and

• Intangible cultural heritage (oral traditions, folklore etc).

This impact assessment addresses Cultural Heritage under the two headings of archaeology and

architectural/built heritage.

1.2 Methodology

The methodology used in the preparation of this assessment is broadly based on guidance provided in the

National Roads Authority’s (NRA) Guidelines for the Assessment of Archaeological Heritage Impacts on



National Road Schemes (NRA 2005a), and Guidelines for the Assessment of Architectural Heritage Impacts on

National Road Schemes (NRA 2005b) (the ‘NRA Guidelines’), which were deemed applicable to the task at

hand.

1.2.1 Desktop Assessment

All known cultural heritage sites were reviewed on the Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) along with aerial

photography and Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) mapping. Sites mapped included the following:

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the tentative list of candidate sites;

• National Monuments, be they in the ownership or guardianship of the State, in the ownership of a

local authority or monuments under preservation orders;

• Record of Monuments & Places (RMP) and Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) from

www.archaeology.ie;

• Records of Protected Structures from Fingal County Council;

• National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) for Co. Dublin and

• Demesnes Landscapes and Historic Gardens indicated on the OSI First Edition Mapping.

All townlands located within 1km of the proposed development site were listed and crossed referenced with:

• National Monuments, a list for Co. Dublin available from www.archaeology.ie;

• Preservation Orders, a list available from the National Monuments Service; and

• Lists contained in to the Report of the Commissioners or Church Temporalities of Ireland (1879) which

contain lists of Churches, School Houses and Graveyards that were vested in the Representative

Church Body and the Burial Boards under The Irish Church Act, 1869. These sites which have the

potential to be in the ownership of the Local Authorities were highlighted as potential National

Monuments.

The Fingal County Development Plan (2017-2023) was reviewed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of

the cultural heritage of the area. Chapter 10 and relevant appendices outline the policies and objectives of

the council regarding the Cultural Heritage resource and provides inventories on sites including national

monuments, recorded monuments, architectural conservation areas, protected structures and protected

views as well as baseline assessments of the landscape character of the county.

The plans also outline the county’s heritage policies and objectives that aim to protect and promote the

archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage of the region. This evaluation was carried out with due

regard to these policies and other relevant information contained within the plans.

To assess the potential impact of the proposal the following sources were also consulted or reviewed:

• Excavations Bulletin;

• Topographical files of the National Museum of Ireland;

• Cartographic Sources;

• Toponyms;

• Aerial photographs;

• Published archaeological inventories; and

• Documentary Sources: a number of literary references were consulted.



1.3 Terms and Definitions

Cultural Heritage

The phrase ‘cultural heritage’ is a generic term used to identify a multitude of cultural, archaeological and

architectural sites and monuments. The term ‘cultural heritage’, in Environmental Impact Statement

compliance with Section 2(1) of the Heritage Act (1995), is used throughout this report in relation to

archaeological objects, features, monuments and landscapes as well as all structures and buildings which are

considered to have historical, archaeological, artistic, engineering, scientific, social or technical

significance/merit.

Record of Monuments and Places

A feature recorded in the ‘Record of Monuments and Places’ (RMP) refers to a recorded archaeological site

that is granted statutory protection under the National Monuments Act 1930-2004. The RMP is the most widely

applying provision of the National Monuments Acts. It comprises a list of recorded monuments and places

(resulting from the Archaeological Survey of Ireland [ASI]) and accompanying maps on which such

monuments and places are shown for each county. The information contained within the RMP is derived from

the earlier non-statutory Sites and Monuments Record (SMR). However some entries were not transferred to

the statutory record as they refer to features that on inspection by the Archaeological Survey were found not

to merit inclusion in that record or could not be located with sufficient accuracy to be included. Such sites

however remain part of the SMR. The record is a dynamic one and is updated to take account of on-going

research.

When reference is made to the distance between an RMP and the proposed development site, this relates to

the minimal distance separating the site from the known edge of the RMP. Where the edge of the RMP is not

precisely known, the distance relates to that which separates the site from the boundary of the RMP zone of

archaeological potential as represented on the respective RMP map; where this is applied, it is stated

accordingly.

Sites and Monuments Record

The Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is an inventory of the known archaeological monuments in the State.

There are more than 150,800 records in the database and over 138,800 of these relate to archaeological

monuments.

An ‘area of archaeological potential’ refers to an area of ground that is deemed to constitute one where

archaeological sites, features or objects may be present in consequence of location, association with

identified/recorded archaeological sites and/or identifiable characteristics.

Register of Historic Monuments Section 5 of the 1987 National Monuments Act states that the Minister is required

to establish and maintain a Register of Historic Monuments. Historic monuments and archaeological areas

present on the register are afforded statutory protection under the 1987 Act. Any interference with sites

recorded in the Register without the permission of the Minister is illegal, and two months’ notice in writing is

required prior to any work being undertaken on or in the vicinity of a registered monument. This list was largely

replaced by the Record of Monuments and Places following the 1994 Amendment Act. No registered Historic

Monuments were identified.



1.4 Fingal County Development Plan 2017-2023

The relevant policies and objectives for Archaeological, Architectural and Cultural Heritage management are

outlined in Chapter 10, Sections 10.1-10.4 of the County Development Plan.

1.5 Description of Project

Block J is a six storey block, including a penthouse level, containing 46 no. apartments. Block K is a six storey

block, including a penthouse level, containing 46 no. apartments. Block L and M is an interlinked L-Shaped

part six and part eight storey block, including a penthouse level, containing 119 no. apartments. A communal

residents amenity space is proposed at ground floor level of Block L-M.

The development proposes the phased completion of the public open space area to the south and south

west of the proposed apartments, which will serve both the proposed and existing residential units at Windmill.

The development includes landscaped communal courtyards, with ancillary car and cycle parking and lift

access to the basement below. Vehicular access will be via the existing access roads serving the Windmill

development, an emergency access is proposed to St. Mochta’s estate to the north and pedestrian / cycle

connections are proposed to Diswellstown Road to the north west and Sheepmoor Lane to south east. The

internal layout of the existing basement, which is located below the proposed apartments, is designed to

accommodate car and cycle parking and bin storage areas for the development.

The development includes all associated site and infrastructural works, including foul and surface water

drainage, landscaping, boundary walls and fences, roads, cyclepaths and footpaths (including a section of

the Royal Canal Greenway on the southern part of the site and tie-in with adjacent footpaths / roads) all on

a site area of approximately 3.73 hectares.

The proposed development relates to the provision of 211 no. apartments in four no. blocks (Block J, K, L and

M), comprising of 10 no. studio units, 68 no. 1 bed units and 133 no. 2 bed units, above an existing basement.



Figure 1 Site location, Extract from Discovery map.



Figure 2 Ordnance Survey map showing location of Proposed Development Area (PDA) ©OSI

Figure 3 Proposed site layout.



Figure 4 Extract from ASI showing Porterstown site.

2 Existing Environment

2.1 Location Details

The site is located in Porterstown, Clonsilla, County Dublin. The site is to the east of the Bridge on Diswellstown

Road and north of the Royal Canal

Table 1 Location details

County and town Dublin (Fingal)

Barony Castleknock

Parish Castleknock Civil Parish

Street Access via Windmill Terrace located south of Clonsilla

Road

Townland Porterhouse (Baile an Phóirtéaraigh)

Locations Within the Windmill Park and Terrace section of the overall

Windmill residential development



OS Sheet number (s) Map no 3195

Archaeological Monuments None within subject site boundary. The nearest recorded

sites and monument is DU017-005---classified as a ringfort

890m south of the site.

Architectural Sites None as listed by the National Inventory of Architectural

Heritage (NIAH) within the site boundary. The nearest sites lie

in excess of 190m to the west including Porterstown School

House - Reg. No. 11361001 and Kennan Bridge - Reg. No.

11361004

ITM Centred on 706452 / 737743

2.2 Archaeological, Architectural and Historical Background

2.2.1 General background to Porterstown, Castleknock Barony.

Porterstown (Genitive- Bhaile an Phóirtéaraigh) is a family name first recorded in 1326 in the Calendar of

Archbishop Alen's Register and refers to Adam Portere, Manor of Finglas.

Excavations, stray finds and historic mapping provide evidence for settlement in the wider area from the

prehistoric times onwards. Recorded monuments featured on the inventory within 2km of the PDA include a

Bronze Age fulacht fiadh (DU017-081--) at Fonthill, a habitation site with a stone axe from Diswellstown (DU017-

010----), a barrow at Kellystown (DU013-018), early medieval ringforts in Porterstown, Astagob and medieval

parishes at Coolmine (DU013-019001)and Clonsilla (DU013-017001-).

Porterstown townland is in both the barony and parish of Castleknock, Co. Dublin. Lewis records that

Castleknock was a royal residence of the Danes, and that, in 1167, Roderick O'Connor encamped here with

his Connaught forces, when he led a numerous army to Dublin, where he was solemnly inaugurated King of

Ireland, and engaged the Danish residents in his pay. Following the Anglo-Norman conquest area was given

by Earl Strongbow to his friend, Hugh de Tyrrell, who was styled Baron of Castleknock. The district comprised in

this grant (said to contain 12,001 Irish Acres) included practically the whole of the present Phoenix Park, and

on the West and North the modern lands of Castleknock, Clonsilla, Mullhuddert, and several others. During the

succeeding century grants of Castleknock lands were given to various families which gave names to the

districts upon which they settled .In 1408 a writ of session accounts for Castleknock lands from which the Lord

of the Manor drew revenue and notes that William Porter held 1 carucate in Porterstown(a carucate was a

medieval unit of land area approximating the land a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual

season).

For the next two hundred years the Tyrrells, as "Barons of Castleknock" figure in the State Papers sometimes

helping the Justiciar against the Irish, at other times fighting abroad with the English kings. Eight Barons

occupied the Castle from 1171 to 1370. Their lives were not always spent in warfare: the thirteenth century was

one of uninterrupted prosperity, and the Castle' knock district has been described as " the land of peace."

Liberal tracts of lands were bestowed on religious houses within the jurisdiction or adjoining it. About 1176 Hugh

Tyrrell the elder bestowed grants of lands covering the district now part of the Phoenix Park from Island Bridge



to Chapelizod on the recently 'founded Priory of St. John the Baptist at Kilmainham. His son Richard is said to

have brought the Benedictines from Little Malvern, Worcestershire, to found a monastery at Castleknock, and

gave them a site almost beside the Castle.

By the 15th century the lands of Castle knock passed via Matilda Tyrrell, the younger sister of the eighth Baron

of Castleknock to her second husband, John Burnell. The Burnells were landowners of extensive property at

Balgriffin in North County Dublin. After the rebellion of Silken Thomas, the head of the Burnell family was

attainted for having taken a prominent part in the rising; but some years later John Burnell was granted a lease

of the Castle—the estate was still in the hands of the Crown. John resided in Castleknock for some forty or fifty

years and is described as "a Gentleman of the Pale." On his death the Castle and demesne became the

residence of his son, Henry. Henry incurred the enmity of the English Government by his close association with

the eleventh Earl of Kildare, which resulted in his imprisonment and loss of wealth. During the Confederate

Warsof the mid-17th century the Castle with the demesne came into the hands of Christopher Barnewall and

later of Phillip Hoare. Dublin was held by the English forces for the King, and the owner of Castleknock sided

with the Anglo-Irish of the Pale. The stronghold of Castleknock was too important a position to be left in the

hands of the enemy close to the walls of Dublin. Attempts were made in 1642 to secure it for the King and to

place a royalist garrison there. When the Civil War was finished the owner of Castleknock was attainted and

his lands confiscated. The estate was broken up among several tenants, and the military history of the Castle

came to an end.

The Down Survey Map marks the location of Porterstown west of Carpenterstown and south of Clonsillagh with

a structure indicating settlement. The survey notes that this land remained unforfeited as it was owned by

English Protestants. Ball in his History of County Dublin records that ‘During the Commonwealth ‘Porterstown

had been occupied by Colonel Richard Lawrence, the promoter of the linen manufacture at Chapelizod and

after the Earl of Orrery, William Muschamp, a member of a family of high position, resided there’.

John Roques map ‘An actual survey of the County of Dublin’ dated 1760 shows Porterstown before the

development of the canal. The area is shown as enclosed agricultural land with a concentration of structures

focused on a turn in the road extending east from Luttrellstown.

In 1715 an Act was passed in the Irish House of Commons ‘to encourage the draining and improving of the

bogs and unprofitable low grounds, and for easing and dispatching the inland carriage and conveyance of

goods from one part to another within this Kingdom’. This act resulted in the construction of The Royal Canal

through Porterstown. The length of the canal was to be 109 miles including seventy-six locks. One of the chief

backers of the project was the Duke of Leinster who wanted the canal to pass near his estate in Carton near

Maynooth. To facilitate the Duke's wishes, the canal was routed between Blanchardstown and Clonsilla. This

decision was questioned at the time, as conditions in the area were not suitable for its construction. The

resulting cost of the two-mile stretch through Blanchardstown and Clonsilla was approximately £40,000,

accounting for almost one-fifth of the total estimated cost. The area east of Kennan bridge was known as "The

Deep Sinking" where the canal narrowed and was dug 30 feet below the bridlepath.

On the 26 November 1845, a tragic accident occurred on the Royal Canal between Porterstown Bridge and

Clonsilla Bridge. A boat left Dublin at two o'clock in the afternoon heading for Longford. There were forty-

seven passengers and seven crew aboard. The captain was a Mr. O'Connor who was very familiar with the

canal. Just beyond the Porterstown Bridge, the boat struck the bank and keeled over. The passengers



panicked and rushed to the escape door. However, the weight of the passengers unbalanced the boat even

more and it began to fill quickly with water. Fifteen people were drowned – 7 men, 6 women and 2 children.

This tragedy is memorialized on a plaque on Kennan Bridge (NIAH Reg. No. 11361004) that reads ‘In memory

of sixteen people/who lost their lives/when the/Dublin to Longford/passenger boat sank here/25 November

1845/Erected by R.C.A.G. 25 Nov 1995’.

In the 1840s the Midland Great Western Railway Company was established with a view to opening a rail link

between Dublin and Galway. The company acquired the ailing Royal Canal with a view to filling in the canal

and building the railway on the site. Permission to do this was refused and the company was obliged to

maintain the canal in working order. The railway was constructed alongside the canal, initially to the canal’s

Broadstone terminus. The Royal Canal was taken into public ownership in the mid-twentieth century and was

closed in 1961. After a few years the users of waterways began to campaign for the canal to be brought back

into use and into usable condition.

The PDA appears on historic mapping as two fields of undeveloped agricultural land with quarries/borrow pits

along the bank of the canal.

2.3 Archaeological Heritage

2.3.1 World Heritage Sites

Although not formally recognised in Irish legislation, impacts on World Heritage Sites will nonetheless be a

material consideration for developments in their wider vicinity.

There is one potential World Heritage Site contained in the Tentative List of Candidate Sites within 10km of the

study area – that of ‘Dublin – The Historic City of Dublin’.

2.3.2 National Monuments in State Care, Guardianship or under Protection Order

On a national level, the highest degree of protection granted to archaeological monuments are those

afforded National Monument status, which are protected under the National Monuments Act of 1930 and its

various amendments. These are the pre-eminent archaeological sites in Ireland and fall into several categories

including:

• Sites that are in the ownership or guardianship of the state;

• Monuments that are the subject of Preservation Orders;

• Monuments in the ownership of a local authority; and

• Walled towns.

Generally National Monuments in state care are numbered amongst the best preserved and most impressive

monuments in the country.

There are no National Monuments within 5km of the PDA.



2.3.3 Record of Monuments and Places (RMP)

The legislation that affords protection to the archaeology of Ireland has seen several amendments since the

first National Monuments Act of 1930 and there is a legacy of several different registers and associated

terminology.

The following sections contain information relative to the Register of Historic Monuments (RHM), the Record of

Monuments and Places (RMP) and the Archaeological Survey Database (ASD). Archaeological monuments

are general registered by the National Monuments Service using a Sites and Monuments Record (SMR)

number.

Figure 5 Extract from RMP map 3195 showing subject area along the Royal Canal and north of the railway.



Figure 6 Showing the proposed development area and nearest RMP sites.


18126 Proposed estate extension, RIvermeade,

Toberburr, Co. Dublin of 46

2.3.4 Archaeological Survey Database

The most up-to-date record of archaeological monuments, the Archaeological Survey Database (ASD),

is available for viewing and download on the www.archaeology.ie website. This record is continually

revised and indicates several additional sites that do not feature in the RMP. The National Monuments

Service also makes available SMR Zones of Notification on the website.

There are 12 entries in the ASD that are located within 2km of the proposed development, these are

presented in Table 2. Distances indicated are from the point data, made available in the ASD, to the site

boundary.

Table 2 Relevant SMR’s within 2km of the subject area.

SMR No Class Townland ITM

Reference

(E)

ITM

Reference

(N)

Distance

DU017-005----

Ringfort - unclassified PORTERSTOWN 706160 706160 888.4243768

DU013-019001- Church COOLMINE

(Castleknock By.)

706440 706440 1047.205891

DU013-019002- Graveyard COOLMINE

(Castleknock By.)

706435 706435 1037.993178

DU013-018---- Barrow - ring-barrow KELLYSTOWN 704987 704987 1344.897573

DU017-007---- Ringfort - unclassified ASTAGOB

(Castleknock By.,

Clonsilla ED)

706209 706209 1468.016852

DU013-017001- Church CLONSILLA 704899 704899 1482.242654

DU013-017002- Graveyard CLONSILLA 704888 704888 1485.970342

DU013-017003- Graveslab CLONSILLA 704898 704898 1481.744784

DU017-010---- Habitation site DISWELLSTOWN 707726 707726 1609.165819



The following records are the available site descriptions for the monuments within 1.5km of the PDA.

SMR : DU017-005----

Class: Ringfort - unclassified

Townland: PORTERSTOWN

Scheduled for inclusion in the next revision of the RMP: Yes

Description: An aerial photograph (CUCAP, AVS 30) shows cropmark evidence for a roughly circular

enclosure (diam. c. 40m). This site was partially excavated in 1990 prior to the development of Porterstown

church car park (Cotter 1991, 27). The fosse visible on the aerial photograph was located. It was round-

bottomed (Wth 2.5-3m; D 1.25m) and the fill was sterile except for some animal bone. Possible evidence

for an opening in the east was detected. Overall, the archaeological remains indicate that the site is a

levelled ringfort. A gully and some post-holes which produced a sherd of Bronze Age pottery indicate

that there was earlier activity at the site.

The site was subject to geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R180) which defined the extent of the ringfor,

the eastern limit of which, extends under the playing pitches that adjoin the carpark (Krahn 2006). A

sports club had been constructed further south, being accessed by a pathway that traverses the site. It

is unknown if insertion of services had any effect.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 29 January 2015

DU017-011---- Ritual site - holy well DISWELLSTOWN 707962 707962 1781.244184

DU017-074---- Burial ground ASTAGOB

(Castleknock By.,

Castleknock ED)

706271 706271 1182.973342

DU017-081---- Fulacht fia FONTHILL 706273 706273 1898.288459

DU013-035---- Mill - unclassified BLANCHARDSTOWN 708215 708215 1878.663074



SMR : DU013-019001-

Class: Church

Townland: COOLMINE (Castleknock By.)


Description: There is a raised oval area (dims. L 50m E-W, Wth.30m) formerly within the grounds of

Coolmine House. According to Healy there were human bones exposed on the site (1974, 21).

Traditionally associated with St. Machtus and believed to be the site of the 'white chapel' which went out

of existence about 1490 (Ronan 1940, 188). In the list of the churches of the dioceses c. AD 1275, the

Crede Mihi, the church of 'Culmyn' is mentioned. It is also mentioned in the Taxation of 1292 and 1294.

Now contained within the Blanchardstown Millennium Park. The site was subject to geophysical survey

(Licence no. 09R195) in advance of the proposed Metro West. Remains of enclosure ditches and possible

pit type features associated with the Coolmine Church (DU013-019001-) and graveyard (DU013-019002-)

were identified. A sub-circular enclosure (c.50m diam. NS) and further ditch remains extending to the

south and east were associated with possible burnt/fired features which may indicate hearths or kilns

(Nicholls 2009, 14). A dog run was instated directly abutting the eastern limit of the oval area without

archaeological supervision.




References:

1. Nicholls, J. 2009a Geophysical Survey Report: Metro west, Tallaght to Dardistown, Co Dublin (Licence

no, 09R195). Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts,

Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

References:

1. Krahn, H. 2006 Archaeological Geophysical Surevy: St Mochtas Church, Porterstown, Clonsilla, Dublin

15 (Licence no. 06R180). Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department

of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltach

SMR : DU013-019002-

Class: Graveyard

Townland: COOLMINE (Castleknock By.)


Description: A raised oval area (dims. L 50m E-W, Wth.30m) formerly in the grounds of Coolmine House,

now Blanchardstown Millennium Park. According to Healy there were human bones exposed on the site



(1974, 21). There are no grave markers. Associated with the 'white chapel' which went out of existence

about 1490 (Ronan 1940, 188 (DU013-019001-).

The site was subject to geophysical survey (Licence no. 09R195) in advance of the proposed Metro West.

Remains of enclosure ditches and possible pit type features associated with the Coolmine Church

(DU013-019001-) and graveyard (DU013-019002-) were identified. A sub-circular enclosure (c.50m diam.

NS) and further ditch remains extending to the south and east were associated with possible burnt/fired

features which may indicate hearths or kilns (Nicholls 2009, 14).


SMR : DU013-018----

Class: Barrow - ring-barrow

Townland: KELLYSTOWN


Description: Situated beside the railway line at Greenmount in the paddock are three conjoined circular

features, comprising external bank (av. dims. Wth 2.5m; H 0.6m), internal fosse (av. dims. Wth 2m; D 0.25m)

and raised interiors (av. ext. diams.11m). Test excavation (Licence no. 06E0348) was undertaken to

determine the exact nature of three conjoined ringbarrows possible barrows. Testing on the east-west

axis located a ditch along the interior of the bank of one of the three conjoined circular embanked

features. Its presence strongly suggests that the feature is a type of barrow and, by inference, that the

other two circular features belong to the same monument typology (Lynch 2006).



SMR : DU017-007----

Class: Ringfort - unclassified

Townland: ASTAGOB (Castleknock By., Clonsilla ED)


Description: The site comprises a circular platform (diam. 25m; H 1.75m) damaged along the east side.

The site is very overgrown but may be the remains of a platform ringfort. Now within golf course.






SMR : DU013-017001-

Class: Church

Townland: CLONSILLA


Description: The Church of Ireland located on higher ground to the north of a circular graveyard was

built in 1846. It reputedly occupies the site of an earlier medieval parish church (Ball 1906, 20-21). There is

no visible trace of earlier church.




SMR : DU013-017002-

Class: Graveyard

Townland: CLONSILLA


Description: St Mary's church is located on higher ground to the north of a circular graveyard. To rear of

the church is the White mausoleum. Between it and the church a parish centre has been erected. The

site was subject to archaeological excavation (Licence no. 04E0033) prior to the construction of a parish

centre extending north from St Mary’s church. A total of 32 burials were uncovered of which 30 were

excavated, two being left under the crypt (built 1802) boundary wall. The majority of burials appeared

to date from the 19th century to mid-20th century (Keith 2004). Graveyard is in use.




References:

1. Keith, S. 2004 Archaeological excavation report at St Mary’s Church Clonsilla, Dublin 15 (Licence no.

04E0033). Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage

and the Gaeltacht

SMR : DU013-017003-

Class: Graveslab

Townland: CLONSILLA




Description: There is a tombstone in the graveyard of the 19th-century Church of Ireland erected to

Frances Lady Newcomen of Sutton d. 1687 (Ball 1906, 20-21). Located south of church aligned the

graveslab is recumbent within a tarmacademed area. Extensive cracked the southwest corner of the

has been replaced by concrete. Stone is flaking. Lettering hard to make out but for the moss.




2.3.5 Cartographic Research

Analysis of historic mapping shows how the landscape has changed over time. The comparison of

editions of historic maps can show how some landscape features have been created, altered or

removed over a period of time. Sometimes features that appear on these early maps are found to be of

potential archaeological significance during fieldwork. For this study the following historic maps were

consulted:

• 1670 Down Survey

• Rocque’s ‘Actual Survey of the City and Suburbs of Dublin’ (1760)

• First edition Ordnance Survey 6” Maps circa 1830; and

• Third edition Ordnance Survey 25” Maps circa 1900.

A review of the available cartographic sources begins with the Down Survey of the late 17th century, the

maps of the Barony and parish of Castleknock provide limited information but Porterstown is notated and

a structure is visible beside the text (not reproduced) . The subject area appears on John Rocque’s map

of Dublin and environs from his survey of 1760 (figure 7). This map was drawn up prior to the construction

of the Royal Canal that later divided the townland in two. Porterstown is shown as enclosed agricultural

fields with structures focussed on a bend in the road east of Luttrellstown.

William Duncan’s Map of the County of Dublin 1821 (figure 8) shows Porterstown following the completion

of the Canal. The PDA is shown as undeveloped land lying between Neville Bridge to the west and

Kirkpatrick Bridge to the east. Neville bridge is marked as Kennan Bridge on the First Edition Ordnance

Survey 6” Map (Figure 9). This bridge (NIAH 11361004) is named after a Scottish family that formerly owned

Diswellstown House. The bridge in Porterstown was built between 1790 and 1800 and has a plaque

commemorating the sinking of the ‘Longford’ in 1843. This tragedy occurred in the ‘deep sinking’ when

the evening passenger boat to Longford from Dublin struck a stone on the side of the canal, heeled over

and drowned sixteen people. The PDA is depicted as occupying portions of three fields, one running east

west along the canal bank and two to the north. Along the canal bank are quarries/borrow pits. A single

structure is marked to the west of the site. By the time of the later 25” map this structure has disappeared.

From 2000 Aerial imagery shows the construction of the Diswellstown Road with new bridge west of the

PDA.



Figure 7 Porterstown from Rocque’s 1760 Survey of Dublin.

Figure 8 Porterstown between the bridges following construction of the Royal Canal, William

Duncan 1821.



Figure 9 Extract from OS 6” first edition map showing subject site.

Figure 10 Extract from OS 25” third edition map showing subject site.



2.3.6 Aerial Photography

The usefulness of aerial photography is that it allows for a different perspective - ‘the distant view’.

Archaeological sites may show up on the ground surface, depending on their state of preservation, by

light and shadow contrasts (shadow marks), tonal differences in the soil (soil marks) or differences in

height and colour of the cultivated cereal (crop marks). It is also a useful aid in pinpointing existing

features and can assist in ascertaining their extent and degree of preservation.

From a review of available aerial imagery, the site was greenfield until 2008. From this point construction

work for Blocks A -G proceeded and much of the site was stripped and the topsoil stored along the

southern fence. In succeeding years the site has seen significant disturbance and infilling.

Figure 11 Site during construction of the road and bridge to the west, note the southern strip of

brown field possibly being utilized for construction traffic.



Figure 12 PDA as greenfield in 2005

Figure 13 Condition of site April 2008.

No anomalies of potential cultural heritage significance were noted within the site boundary.



Figure 14 Aerial image of the site

2.3.7 Topographical Files of the National Museum of Ireland

The topographical files of the NMI identify all recorded finds held in the NMI archive that have been

donated to the state in accordance with national monuments legislation. The files sometimes include

reports on excavations undertaken by NMI archaeologists in the early 20th century. Valuable information

that can be gleaned might include the exact location, ground type, depth below ground level and

condition when found, of each find. However, the amount and the usefulness of the information

available on each find can vary considerably. The topographical files are listed by county and townland

and/or street name.

The following table lists record(s) of finds in the vicinity of the subject area from the NMI topographical

files:

:

NMI Find Ref Description and location

1980:30 Polished Stone Axehead found near present day Luttrell Park Drive

1979:104 Polished Stone Axehead found near present day Lambourn Road.



2.3.8 Previous Archaeological Fieldwork

The Excavation Bulletin is both a published annual directory and an online database that provides

summary accounts of all the excavations carried out in Ireland and Northern Ireland from 1970 to 2012.

The database gives access to over 15,000 reports and can be browsed or searched using multiple fields,

including Year, County, Site Name, Site Type, Grid Reference, Licence No., Sites and Monuments Record

No. and Author.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) archaeological database (http://archaelogy.nra.ie) contains a

description of the results of excavations carried out in advance of various road schemes. In general, the

database contains information on sites for which final excavation reports have been received.

The following entries are recorded in the general area:

Reference

No.

Townland Site type Licence No. Co-ordinates

2009:299 PORTERSTOWN,

CLONSILLA, Dublin

No archaeological

significance

09E0096 E 706042m, N

737534m

A small link road in the Porterstown link scheme, measuring 420m in length, was tested. No

archaeological remains were found.

Reference

No.

Townland Site type Licence No. Co-ordinates

1990:039 Porterstown, Dublin Bronze Age/?Early Christian - E 706142m, N

736863m

In 1988 planning permission was sought from Dublin County Council for the development of a car

park at St Mochta's Church, Porterstown, Co. Dublin (c. 3.5km west of Phoenix Park). It was intended

that the car park, roughly 1 acre in extent, would be situated in the north-west corner of what is at

present a large potato field.

An oblique aerial photograph taken in July 1968 by the University of Cambridge revealed traces of

an almost circular cropmark in the north-west corner of the field. As a result, archaeological

excavation was recommended by the Office of Public Works.

Prior to excavation, no trace of any feature associated with the site was evident. The cropmark was

mapped out onto the field from the AP and a north-south and an east-west trench excavated

through the centre.

The ditch visible on the AP was located in three places viz; along the north, south and east. The

western limit of the site may lie beyond the present field boundary. The ditch was round bottomed,

2.5m-3m wide at the lip and narrowing to 0.6m at the base. The excavated sections were up to 1.25m

in depth but had been truncated by ploughing. With the exception of a single charcoal-rich layer in



the south section, the fill throughout was sterile and consisted of silty, stony clay. Two fragments of

animal bone were recovered from the charcoal layer.

No trace of any ancillary features associated with the ditch were revealed in the course of the

excavation. Possible evidence for a break in the ditch may be detected in the east sector of the site

on the AP.

Slightly under 10% of the interior was excavated. No cultural layers were preserved and the extant

features were heavily truncated. A curvilinear gully and three scattered post-holes (0.15m diameter

x 0.25m deep) were revealed. The southernmost post-hole yielded a sherd of Bronze Age pottery.

The sherd had no visible decoration and is too fragmentary for close identification.

No stratigraphical evidence survived to assess the relationship between the internal features and the

ring ditch. The curvilinear trench or gully and the scatter of post-holes are features paralleled on a

broad range of sites – both funerary and habitation – dating from the Bronze Age onwards. In the

general Porterstown area Bronze Age settlement is attested to by the discovery of EBA cists in the

Phoenix Park in the last century, the ring barrow complex which survives near Clonsilla, and the Middle

Bronze Age sites along the Liffey basin.

The large size of the enclosure itself (34.5m internal diameter) suggests that it may have been a

ringfort. The overall diameter and the location of a possible entrance feature in the east-south-east

sector comply well with other sites of this type in the north Dublin area. Furthermore, the location of

the site accords well with the distribution of ringforts rather than the more southerly distribution of

ringbarrows etc.



Figure 15 Previous fieldwork in the vicinity of the PDA.

2.3.9 Toponym Analysis

Townland names are a rich source of information for the land use, history, archaeology and folklore of

an area. The place name can have a variety of language origins such as, Irish, Viking, Anglo-Norman

and English. The names can provide information on families, topographical features, and historical

incidents. In terms of the built environment many names reference churches, fords, castles, raths,

graveyards, roads and passes etc. In compiling the following data, a number of resources were consulted

including the Placenames Database of Ireland www.logainm.ie and Irish Names of Places by P.W. Joyce

(Joyce, 1913).

Table 3: Toponym analysis

Townland

Name/

Name

Irish Version Translation

Porterstown Baile an

Phóirtéaraigh

Porter is a family name. The first reference to the name in relation

to the subject area is in 1326 in the Calendar of Archbishop Alen's

Register (ed. McNeill, 1950) that records Adam Portere as Manor

of Finglas.

The Crown Surveys of Lands 1540-41 refers to Porterystowne.

Roques map of 1760 shows a concentration of structures at Porters

town.



2.4 Architectural Heritage

2.4.1 Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA)

The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that all Development Plans must now

include objectives for preserving the character of Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs). An ACA is a

place, area, group of structures or townscape of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic,

cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, or which contribute to the appreciation of protected

structures.

In these areas, the protection of the architectural heritage is best achieved by controlling and guiding

change on a wider scale than the individual structure, in order to retain the overall architectural or historic

character of an area.

There are no ACA’s adjacent to the site boundary.

2.4.2 Record of Protected Structures (RPS) / National Inventory of

Architectural Heritage (NIAH)/ Industrial/Vernacular Heritage

The importance of our built heritage is enshrined in the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (Part II,

Section 10) which places a statutory obligation on local authorities to include in their Development Plans

objectives for the protection of structures, or parts of structures, which are of special interest. The principal

mechanism for the protection of these structures is through their inclusion on the Record of Protected

Structures (RPS). This list provides recognition of the structure’s importance, protection from adverse

impacts and potential access to grant aid for conservation works. The record of Protected Structures is

an ongoing process and can be reviewed and added to. In considering additions to the Record of

Protected Structures local authorities have recourse to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage

(NIAH) which provides a source of guidance on the significance of buildings in their respective areas.

There are 6 Records of Protected Structures in the general area of the subject site, as listed by Fingal

County Council:

Ref Site/ Location Distance

from PDA Description

RPS 698

NIAH 11361004

Kennan Bridge.

Diswellstown

180m

Single-arch limestone bridge over canal,

c.1800, with plaque over arch. Plaque

reads: "In memory of sixteen people/who

lost their lives/when the/Dublin to

Longford/passenger boat sank here/25

November 1845/Erected by R.C.A.G. 25

Nov 1995

RPS 700

NIAH 11361001

Porterstown

School House,

Porterstown Road,

Fingal 350m

Detached gable-fronted three-bay two-

storey over basement former school with

attic accommodation, built 1854, with

gabled central projecting bay flanked by



entrance porches. Now vacant.

Architect:James Kennedy Esq.

2.4.3 Designed Landscapes/Demesnes, Historic Gardens & Country Estates

The Architectural Section of the DAHG is in the process of a multi-phase study looking at Designed

Landscapes and Historic Gardens that appear as shaded areas on the First Edition Ordnance Survey

Maps, circa. 1830.

‘The objective of this survey is to begin a process of understanding of the extent of Ireland's historic

gardens and designed landscape. Sites were identified using the 1st edition Ordnance Survey maps.

These were compared with current aerial photography to assess the level of survival and change.’

There are no demesnes or big houses featured on historic mapping in Porterstown townland. The nearest

significant big houses are Luttrellstown castle to the south west and Coolmine house to the north east.

Luttrellstown was associated with the Anglo-Norman family of Luttrells (Ball 1906 1-19; Guinness & Ryan

1971, 139-43). It is shown as a large Tudor style dwelling with surrounding walls on the Down Survey (1655-

6) map. According to the Dublin Hearth Money Roll for 1664 the house had eleven chimneys, and was

surrounded by pleasure grounds, ornamental plantations and orchards (Ball 1906). In 1800 the Luttrell

family sold the property to Luke White who changed the name of the property to 'Woodlands' and

encased the castle in early 19th-century Gothic architecture. (Bence-Jones 1995, 196, 2nd ed).

2.5 Fieldwork

A site visit of the PDA was undertaken on the 29th of March 2019 in dry and bright conditions. The site was

accessed via a gateway to the north east, at the end of Windmill Court. The lands comprise a stripped

site that is bound to the north by apartments blocks for the Windmill Court Development, to the east by

an embankment alongside the Porterstown Road, to the south by a steel fence beyond which is an

overgrown strip that runs alongside the Royal Canal. To the west is the rear of the Giraffe Childcare facility

and a green space beside the Station hall development. Internally the old field boundaries have been

removed and the ground has been stripped to natural ground, much of the top soil has been mounded

along the southern perimeter fence. From the centre of the site towards the east is a haul road that

proceeds from a gated entrance at Windmill Terrace and loops around the eastern half of the site. This

haul road has been used to import builder’s rubble and fill that has been spread around the south east

corner. Elsewhere there are random dumps of fill and construction debris. There was no undisturbed

original ground noted.



Figure 16 Site showing stripped area and mounded material.

Plate 1 Looking west to road embankment from access point shown on figure 15.



Plate 2 Looking south west towards bridge over Royal canal, Diswellstown Road, ground previously

disturbed by construction work for road.

Plate 3 Looking south east across site towards house at end of Sheepmoore lane, right of background.



Plate 4 Looking east north east to rear of Giraffe Childcare facility across stripped ground.

Plate 5 Looking south east across site towards Station Court hall (left of background) and mounded

material.



Plate 6 Looking south to Sheepmore Lane.

Plate 7 Looking west across stripped ground from north east side of side.



Plate 8 Looking west across the southern perimeter to mounded material.

Plate 9 South east corner of site, stripped and covered with builders fill.



Plate 10 Extent of mounded material along southern perimeter fence.

2.6 Potential Direct Impacts

Direct negative impacts may occur where sites of archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage

significance are located within the footprint of the proposed development, which would potentially be

impacted upon by ground disturbances.

In relation to the proposed development, direct, physical impacts on the archaeological, architectural

and cultural heritage can manifest themselves in the following ways:

• Where an archaeological, architectural or cultural heritage site, structure, monument or feature

is located within an area where works takes place and the works either intentionally or

unintentionally entail the alteration or removal of all or part of the site, structure, monument or

feature a direct, physical impact will occur;

• Direct, physical impacts can also occur in gaining access to the site. Where archaeological,

architectural or cultural heritage sites, structures, monuments or features are intentionally or

unintentionally removed or altered when transporting and/or facilitating access for machinery,

equipment and/or materials to or from site a direct physical impact will occur; and

• There is the potential for direct, physical impacts on previously unrecorded archaeological and

architectural sites, structures, monuments or features.

If these impacts cannot be remediated, for example if archaeological deposits are destroyed during

excavations, then the impacts will be permanent.



2.6.1 Potential direct Impacts on Recorded Archaeological Monuments

Following a site inspection and review of various sources, including excavations.ie and the

Archaeological Survey Database, there is likely to be no impact on any recorded archaeological

monuments by the proposed development.

2.6.2 Potential direct Impacts on unrecorded Archaeological Monuments

The site has been stripped to natural ground, mounded material is being stored along the southern

perimeter and various spoil dumps are scattered across the site. In areas, particularly to the south east

builders’ fill has been spread over the stripped ground. No additional sites were noted during the site

survey. Any sites of archaeological potential that may have previously survived below ground would

have been negatively impacted by previous stripping work.

2.6.3 Potential direct Impacts Architectural Sites

The proposed development will not impact on any Protected Structures/NIAH sites or previously

unrecorded vernacular features within the red line boundary of the subject site.

2.6.4 ‘Do Nothing scenario’

In this instance, there would be no impact on any potential unrecorded sub surface deposits.

2.6.5 ‘Worst Case’ scenario’

In this case, construction work could potentially negatively impact previously unknown sites resulting in

the loss or damage of archaeological artefacts and features.

2.7 Potential Impacts on setting

Indirect impacts can take the form of impacts on the settings of architectural or cultural heritage features

– impacts on setting are primarily visual and examine the effect of the development upon the setting of

a site within the wider landscape. Visual impacts can be reduced with sensitive site development and

screening. The impact of the development is usually proportional to the extent to which that

development is visible to and from the extant recorded monuments and features.

2.7.1 Archaeology Sites

There are no recorded archaeological sites/features listed as being located within the boundary of the

subject site. The nearest recorded monument is SMR DU017-005—classified as a ringfort. This site only

survives as a cropmark under a carpark and playing pitches. Following a site inspection and review of

online sources, there will likely be no impact on the setting any recorded archaeological sites in the wider

area of the development.



2.7.2 Architectural Sites

There are no architectural sites (as stated in section 2.4.2 above) that are likely to be affected by the

proposed development.

3 Mitigation Measures and Residual Impacts

The PDA at Porterstown, Dublin does not contain any recorded monuments or protected structures within

its boundaries. From a review of cartographic and historic sources the site up until recent years remained

undeveloped and was used for agricultural purposes. A strip along the canal to the south was used for

quarrying. Based on aerial imagery the site to the west and south was impacted during construction work

for the road and bridge circa 2000. The rest of the site was stripped of topsoil around 2007/8. Since then

the area has been used to store topsoil and builders fill. The site is too disturbed to undertake

archaeological testing or monitoring. It is recommended that development proceed without further

mitigation.

4 References and Bibliography

Joyce, P.W., 1913. Irish Names of Places. Vol. III. Dublin.

Killanin, Lord. & Duignan, M.V., 1989. The Shell Guide to Ireland. Edbury Press, London.

Lewis, S., 1937. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. 2 Vols. Lewis & Co., London.

Ó’Cróinín, D., 1995. Early Medieval Ireland, 400-1200. Longman, England.

O’Keeffe, T., 2000. Medieval Ireland, an Archaeology. Tempus, U.K.

4.1 OTHER SOURCES REFERENCED

Dept. of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 1999. Frameworks and Principles for the Protection of the

Archaeological Heritage, Government publications, Dublin.

Dept. of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 1999. Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological

Excavation. Government Publications, Dublin.

Department of the Communications, Climate Action and Environment. 2000. Landscape and landscape

assessment. Guidelines for planning authorities.

EPA. 2002. Guidelines on the information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements.

EPA. 2003. Advice Notes on Current Practice (in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements

EPA. 2015. Revised Guidelines on the Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements

- Draft

EPA. 2015. Advice Notes for Preparing Environmental Impact Statements – Draft.

Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment, 2013; Guidelines for

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (third edition), Routledge, 170pp.



The Heritage Council, 2000. Archaeology & Development: Guidelines for Good Practice for Developers.

The Heritage Council of Ireland Series, Kilkenny.

The Planning and Heritage Section of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and

Environment. Sites and Monuments Record, County Dublin.

EPA, 1995. Advice notes on current practice in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements.

Dublin.

National Monuments Acts 1930-1994.

National Museum of Ireland. Topographical files, County Dublin.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2016-2022.

4.2 Electronic Sources

http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/

http://www.excavations.ie/

http://www.fingal.ie/

https://heritagemaps.ie/WebApps/HeritageMaps/index.html

http://www.logainm.ie/

http://www.museum.ie/

https://www.townlands.ie/

http://sdublincoco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html

http://webgis.archaeology.ie/

http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/tentative-list/

http://www.dublincity.ie/

https://www.knockunion.ie

5 Conventions, Directives and Legislation

Ireland has ratified several European and international conventions in relation to the protection of its

cultural heritage. This section summarises Ireland’s obligations as a signatory to a number of International

and European conventions relating to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage sites. Also

included is a synopsis of existing national legislation governing the care and protection of our cultural

heritage resources.

5.1.1 ICOMOS Xi’an Declaration, 2005

Ireland is a signatory to an international declaration sponsored by International Council on Monuments

and Sites (ICOMOS), the Xi’an Declaration on the Conservation of the Setting of Heritage Structures, Sites



and Areas, 2005, that endeavours to ensure the safeguard and conservation of the World’s cultural

heritage as part of its sustainable and human development.

5.1.2 EIA Directive 85/337/EEC as amended

To assist planning and other consent authorities in deciding if significant effects on the environment are

likely to arise in the case of development below the national mandatory EIS thresholds, the Minister for

the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published a Guidance document in August 2003.

5.1.3 The European Landscape Convention 2000

In 2002 Ireland ratified the European Landscape Convention - also known as the Florence Convention,

which promotes the protection, management and planning of European landscapes and organises

European co-operation on landscape issues. It is the first international treaty to be exclusively concerned

with all dimensions of European landscape.

5.1.4 Valletta Convention, 1997

In 1997 the Republic of Ireland ratified the Council of Europe, European Convention on the Protection of

the Archaeological Heritage (the ‘Valletta Convention’). Obligations under the Convention include:

provision for statutory protection measures, including the maintenance of an inventory of the

archaeological heritage and the designation of protected monuments and areas.

5.1.5 Granada Convention, 1997

Under the European Convention on the Protection of the Architectural Heritage (Granada Convention),

1997, the Republic of Ireland is obliged to maintain inventories of architectural heritage, to protect the

architectural heritage and adopt conservation policies as integrated planning objectives.

5.1.6 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972

This Convention provides for the identification, conservation and preservation of cultural and natural sites

of outstanding universal value for inclusion in a world heritage list. The World Heritage status is a non-

statutory designation and no additional statutory controls result from this designation. However, the

impact of proposed development upon a World Heritage Site will be a key material consideration in

determining planning applications.

5.2 Legislation

5.2.1 The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 ensures the protection of the

archaeological heritage resource by requiring that all applications under this Act are accompanied by

an EIS including information on material assets, including the architectural and archaeological heritage,

and the cultural heritage.



5.2.2 The National Monuments Act 1930 to 2004

Irish legislation for the protection of archaeological heritage is based on the National Monuments Acts

1930 and amendments of 1954, 1987, 1994 and 2004. These acts are the principal statutes governing the

care of monuments in the Irish Republic. They provide for the protection of national monuments through

the use of preservation orders. The overall state archaeological service is provided by the Department of

Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DoCHG) and delivered through the Planning and Heritage Section

of the DoCHG and the National Museum of Ireland (Irish Antiquities Division) on behalf of the Minister.

Monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts in a number of ways:

• National Monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or a local authority;

• National Monuments, which are subject to a preservation order;

• Historic monuments or archaeological areas recorded in the Register of Historic Monuments; and

• Monuments recorded in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP).

5.2.3 The Planning and Development Act 2000

Under arrangements which came into operation on 1 January 2000 (The Planning and Development Act

2000), the system of listing buildings was replaced with strengthened procedures for the preservation of

protected structures and structures in architectural conservation areas (ACA).

5.2.4 The Architectural Heritage and Historic Properties Act, 1999

This Act provides for the establishment of a national inventory of architectural heritage which forms the

basis for recommendation from the Minister to local authorities of sites for inclusion in the local authorities

Record of Protected Structures

5.3 Other Policy Contexts and Guidelines

5.3.1 The Archaeological Survey Database (ASD)

The ASD is maintained by the National Monuments Service of the DoCHG and contains the most up to

date information on archaeological monuments within the State. The site is regularly updated with new

sites as they come to light and has increasing volumes of information about individual sites.

5.3.2 The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH)

NIAH data is available to be viewed and / or download from the www.buildingsofireland.ie website. The

website contains detailed notes and photographs of all structures included in the recommendations

made by the Minister to the relevant local authorities.



5.3.3 The Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological

Heritage guidelines, 1999

This document sets out the basic principles of national policy on the protection of the archaeological

heritage. A key principle set out in these guidelines is that there should always be a presumption in favour

of avoidance of developmental impacts on the archaeological heritage and preservation in-situ of

archaeological sites and monuments must be presumed to be the preferred option.

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