2023:075 - RUSSAGH, Rathowen, Westmeath

Excavation works for the forest road at Russagh, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath commenced on 1 March 2023 at the entrance way from a small local road. Work continued in intermittent phases during March, with completion in early April. The hedge was removed and a large bellmouth was created for turning vehicles coming in off the local road. Road construction then proceeded due north, to a T at the end of the new forest road. The trees were removed by a forwarder and stacked on both sides of a 20m-wide path, tree stumps were removed by JCB and the brash was laid along the line of the road. A JCB then spread hard-core material on top of the brash to create the forest road—minimal soil (approx. 0.2m) was excavated along the length of the road and nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of the works.