2025:611 - Athy-Portlaoise 110kV Uprate, Laois
County: Laois
Site name: Athy-Portlaoise 110kV Uprate
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LA018-066, LA018-067
Licence number: 25E0690
Author: Joseph Nunan (on behalf of Tobar Archaeological Services) & Miriam Carroll (Tobar Archaeological Services)
Author/Organisation Address: Tobar Archaeological Services, www.tobararchaeology.ie
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 652841m, N 694319m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.996985, -7.212847
Archaeological monitoring of ground works and testing of angle mast (AM105) took place during the Athy-Portlaoise 110kV Uprate, Co. Laois in July and August 2025. The development comprised the upgrade of the existing Athy to Portlaoise 110kV. It involved the replacement of 17 poleset structures, the replacement of existing tower 85, and the construction of a new angle mast (AM105) in addition to associated line protection works. The works comprised the excavation of pits for replacement poles, pits for stay wires and the excavation of trenches for earth mats. All works were carried out adjacent to the existing pole locations.
Other ground works undertaken as part of the project comprised the construction of a temporary access road to the location of the new angle mast (AM105).
Two test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the permitted location of angle mast (AM105) in order to ascertain the sub-surface archaeological potential of same. No potential archaeological finds, features or deposits were uncovered in the trenches therefore no potential direct impacts to sub-surface archaeology were identified.
No potential archaeological finds, features or deposits were uncovered during monitoring of ground works associated with the upgrade of the existing 110kV overhead line.