2023:695 - St. Johnstown, Tipperary

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken of ancillary site works associated with a farm redevelopment project, including building a new milking parlour, at St. Johnstown, Fethard. As part of associated site works, it was necessary to undertake an overhead electrical line diversion, remove an existing pole and transformer, and the erection of a new temporary ESB pole. The requirement for the archaeological monitoring was due the site being located within the constraint area of a Deer Park (TI062-056).

An archaeological licence (22E0044) was re-activated from previous testing works undertaken on the site as part of the planning process to build the new milking parlour.

Prior to the issuing of the licence to undertake the monitoring, an area had been excavated for the temporary ESB pole, the pole erected, earth wires laid and a stay installed. On the realisation that these works were undertaken without archaeological monitoring, the temporary ESB pole was taken down and the excavated area temporarily backfilled.

Under the direct licensed supervision of the archaeologist the backfill was removed from the excavated area for the temporary pole and examined. There was nothing revealed in the backfilled area that had any archaeological significance with the area appearing to be sterile. As the ground works for laying the earth wires and stay was negligible, this was not revisited.