2025:146 - RECREATIONAL TRAIL DEVELOPMENT, West Offaly, Offaly

Archaeological Testing was undertaken in the townlands of Bloomhill, Bellaghurt, Derries and Lemanaghan, Turraun and Oughter and Ballybrackan Little, Co. Offaly. Works took place from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Constraints in the form of inaccessible areas resulted in Trenches 3, 28, 29 & 32 remaining unexcavated. Consequently, 28 trenches totalling 1400 linear metres were excavated along the 26.1km route instead of the proposed 32 trenches (1600 linear metres). Trenches located by a proposed gate were excavated to a depth of 0.5m while trenches along the pathway were excavated to a depth of 0.4m in line with the excavation depths required for the proposed developments.

All trenches contained only two contexts: Upper layer C1 and Bog C2. The Upper layer varied in depth across site depending on location. In the harvested bog the upper layer comprised dry, loose black turf 0.1–0.4m deep, sometimes containing modern debris such as plastics. In other, more overgrown areas, this upper layer contained more roots and as a result was more humic and waterlogged. In all trenches Bog (C2) was encountered at varying depths. This comprised a pinkish-brown waterlogged humic layer. Bord na Mona workers informed us that the bog continues to a depth of up to 5m in places and rests on top of a whitish clay marl. All trenches were excavated to a depth of 0.3–0.4m with the exception of those near proposed gates which were excavated to a depth of 0.5m.

Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in the course of the works.