Archaeological Zones

Cork City’s archaeological heritage is protected under the National Monuments Acts (1930-2004), Natural Cultural Institutions Act 1997 and the Planning Acts. The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) is an inventory, put on a statutory basis, of sites and areas of archaeological significance which are numbered and mapped. A Zone of Archaeological Potential is shown around each monument. The Zone of Archaeological Potential of Cork City (CO074-122) is identified in the inventory and comprises a Primary Zone (the medieval historic core) and a Secondary Zone.

Primary and Secondary Zones of Archaeological Potential of Cork City.
The Primary Zone is outlined in red and the Secondary Zone is outlined in blue.

The primary zone includes the site of the original monastery of Saint Fin Barre, the medieval walled city and the suburbs at its northern (Shandon) and southern (Barrack Street environs) approaches. In this zone archaeological remains lie within a metre of the modern surface, particularly in the North and South Main Street areas, and these strata can be present to a depth of 3m to 4m in places. The city wall also survives beneath the modern street surface and in some places is present less than 30cm below the present ground surface to a depth of 2.5m.

The secondary zone covers areas outside the city wall including unwalled medieval suburbs, known sites of medieval religious houses (Red Abbey), and parts of the city which were developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when marshes were reclaimed and new streets laid out.

In addition, there are 42 RMP sites located outside the Primary and Secondary Archaeological Zones, listed in the inventory. For example, Blackrock, Dundanion and Ringmahon Castles; standing stones in Ballinlough and Gurranabraher; and Churchyard Lane Graveyard, Ballintemple etc.

Cork’s pre-eminence as an industrial centre in the 18th & 19th Century created the most tangible historic remains still surviving in the contemporary city. These industrial archaeological remains related to the development of milling, brewing, distilling, tanning etc. are present in many Cork suburbs and also in the city centre. Associated features, such as millraces, are particularly vulnerable as they may extend for considerable distances from the core building.

Cork in the 16th Century

Planning & Development Dept., Cork City Council,
City Hall, Cork, Ireland.
Tel: Development Control +353 21 4924321
Planning Policy +353 21 4924086
Fax: +353 21 4924706/ +353 21 4924712 | Email: planning@corkcity.ie