2023:882 - 'Pairc na Teile', Beckscourt, Bailieborough, Cavan

A programme of Archaeological Testing was undertaken in February 2023 within the extent of a proposed residential development (Pairc na Teile) located at Beckscourt, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, The testing was undertaken as part preparation of an Archaeological Impact Assessment, as recommended by the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The site has been the subject of ground disturbance works associated with an unfinished residential development and includes areas of topsoil-stripped ground, base-courses of access roads and a number of spoil mounds, the latter in particular along the northern, north-eastern and eastern areas of the site; in addition, a gas main and other buried services are located within the site, including an LPG storage tank in the southernmost area.

There are no previously recorded monuments located within, or in the immediate environs of, the subject development lands and the nearest extant monument is a ringfort (SMR: CV034-042) located approximately 390m to the south; no surface features of archaeological potential were noted by cartographic or aerial photographic/satellite imagery research and by the subsequent surface reconnaissance survey.

No subsurface features of archaeological interest or potential were uncovered by the programme of intrusive testing, which comprised the machine excavation of seventeen trenches positioned randomly across the available surface area of the site.