- Derryvilla, Co. Offaly, Offaly

In September 1970 human remains were discovered during the bulldozing of a hill at Derryvilla, near Portarlington, Co. Offaly,²²⁴ close to the border between counties Laois and Offaly. The NMI was informed of the find by a local man, Mr H. Milner, and the site was investigated on the Museum’s behalf by Dr Barry Raftery of University College, Dublin. The hill is described as a prominent eminence, 89m above sea level, 1.5km north-east of Portarlington town. The hill appeared to be of glacial origin, as the bulldozer revealed its upper levels, at least, to be entirely composed of sand and gravel. More than half of its surface had been completely stripped to a depth of approximately 1m. Raftery noted that it was the only area of dry land in a considerable expanse of bog. Substantial amounts of human bone had come to light, all in a good state of preservation, but were scattered over the bulldozed area. According to Mr Milner, they were associated with pockets of red material, apparently sunk into the ubiquitous grey sand, but this could not be verified on site owing to the level of disturbance. Most of the burials appear to have come from the upper, southern slope of the hill and did not appear to have been buried at any great depth below the ground surface. According to Mr Milner there was a strong local tradition of a monastic settlement on the hilltop. A low earthen bank, approximately 2m wide by 1m high, was visible on the lower slope of the hill in the south-east. This bank, known locally as ‘the Friar’s Togher’, extends for about 250m in a fairly straight line. This is recorded in the SMR for County Offaly as a togher.²²⁵ A second bank, parallel to the first and west of it, is marked on the map but is not evident on the ground. The remains were not acquired, and it was decided not to excavate the site at that time. In 1998 further human remains were exposed during quarrying operations. Trial excavations were carried out by Clare Mullins to the east of the togher (Mullins 2000), and burials were found in eleven of the trenches. Burials occurred at various depths, suggesting that the site was used over an extended period. Mullins interpreted the burials as medieval in date, based on the layout and the ditch feature (this would appear to be the togher mentioned above; Mullins 2000),²²⁶ and suggested that the ditch acted as an enclosure for the burials. Given that burials were also found to the west of the togher, however, it seems likely that the burials extended over the entire plateau. This area has been designated as a burial ground on the SMR.²²⁷

224. Parish of Clonyhurk, barony of Philipstown Lower, Co. Offaly. IGR (approximate) 25470 21450.
225. OF034-001——.
226. Mullins’s excavations, IGR 254758 214334.
227. OF034-008001-. IGR 254809 214464.