2007:317 - ROCHFORDSTOWN/INISHKENNY, Cork

Twenty-one test-trenches were excavated at a proposed housing development site in a greenfield site at Rochfordstown and associated treatment plant at Inishkenny, Waterfall, Co. Cork. Three fulachta fiadh are located within the proposed development site. The sites were not visible before testing. The burnt mounds associated with the two fulachta fiadh (CO085–045 and CO085–046) within the site of the proposed housing development were located.

CO085–045 was seen to be a low mound, c. 0.4m high. The extent of the roughly circular spread of blackened soil and heat-shattered stone was 18m north–south by 19m. One hundred and thirty metres to the north-east of CO085–045 the spread of burnt material of CO085–046 forms a low mound, which is c. 0.3m high, and slopes down to the south and west; there is no slope to the north. The extent of the burnt material was 11m east–west by 11.2m north-west/south-east. It is proposed to place a 20m buffer zone around the two sites. There was no trace of a mound or of any burning associated with the third fulacht fiadh (CO085–042) in the area which will be affected by construction of the proposed treatment plant. No features or finds of archaeological interest, other than the fulachta fiadh, were exposed within the test-trenches.