2024:487 - Manorcunningham, Rossbrackan, Pluck, Corkey, Glebe, Raymoghy, Manorcunningham Churchland, Errity Churchland and Errity, Donegal

Uisce Éireann’s Water Network Programme Pluck, Manorcunningham scheme was located in Rossbrackan, Pluck, Corkey, Glebe, Raymoghy, Manorcunningham Churchland, Errity Churchland and Errity townlands, County Donegal. The scheme involved the installation of c.2,951m of water mains and the decommissioning of c.179m of pipeline along the existing roads (L1154 and L1294), Father Arnold Terrace, north and south of the N14 or within greenfield. The installation methods used were horizontal directional drilling and open-cut trenching.
The monitoring followed high-level Cultural Heritage Screening Assessments (CHSA) undertaken for the scheme by Archaeological Management Solutions. The CHSAs found that the proposed scheme would not impact the Zone of Notification for any Recorded Monuments or sites listed on the Sites and Monuments Record; however, there is one Recorded Monument – a standing stone (DG054-038—-), which is also a National Monument in State care (No. 453), located in the vicinity of the scheme. The CHSA proposed monitoring as a precaution in the vicinity of the following areas of archaeological potential: CH01 (watercourse and townland and civil parish boundary), CH02 (watercourse/townland boundary), CH03 and CH04 (watercourse/drains), CH08 (site of well/watercourse), CH09 and CH10 (sites of a corn-drying kiln and lime kiln), CH12 (site of bridge/culvert), CH18 (well) and CH21 (site of a spring) due to potential for archaeological remains to be present at these locations.
Excavation of eight trial holes, several access pits and sections of open-cut trenching totalling c.52m within areas of archaeological potential along the scheme route were monitored intermittently between 12 December 2023 and 30 August 2024.
No potential archaeological objects, features, deposits or human remains were found during the monitoring of the scheme routes. The only features revealed were a modern stone culvert located at the eastern end of the scheme along an unnamed road, the top of a stone arch or deck of Connaghan’s Bridge (NIAH 40905456); and the top of a second culvert (CH22).