2025:721 - Derryclare, Clonymeath, Ballygortagh & Moynalvy, Meath

Licensed archaeological testing within the site of the permitted Derryclare Solar Farm in the townlands of Derryclare, Clonymeath, Ballygortagh & Moynalvy, Co. Meath was undertaken in September/October 2025. The development extends in intermittent land blocks (Site Areas 1-3) encompassing c.106.68ha and consisted of seventeen agricultural fields (Fields 1 – 17).

A total of 152 linear test trenches, extending for c.4,230m were opened across the entirety of Derryclare. The majority of the test trenches were focussed on the internal accessways, internal section of grid route, onsite substations, temporary compounds, cable trenching and MV transformers. Furthermore, an additional 22 trenches were targeted on the results of anomalies recorded during the geophysical survey (Krah 2021).

Archaeological features (Features 1-18) were found in five main locations (Field 7, Field 10, Field 12, Field 13 & Field 17). These included two ring-ditches (initially interpreted as possible ring-barrows) and associated internal features in T102, T125 & T126, three enclosures (T59 &T60, T159 & T160 and T150, T151 & T157) and associated features including possible pits, post-holes, stake-holes and various linear features and possible field systems in T61, T62, T157, T155 and T156. A single inhumation burial was found in T127 with other linear features and possible pits.

Sixteen soil samples containing charcoal, animal bone or burnt bone were recovered from investigated features. A small assemblage of prehistoric pottery sherds and a stone artefact (whetstone) were recovered from the possible ring-barrows sites.

References:

Krahn, H. (2021), Derryclare Solar Farm, Co. Meath, Archaeological Geophysical Survey, Oct 2021.  Survey undertaken on behalf of Neo Environmental Ltd.