1999:663 - LISDUFF/CLARE/CASTLEGAR/BALLINASMAULA/BARNEYCARROLL/BALLYNABREHON SOUTH, Mayo

Monitoring of topsoil removal took place on the route of Phase I of the Knock–Claremorris Bypass. This portion of the bypass was a 6km-long corridor running east of the town of Claremorris, Co. Mayo. It ranged from 40m to 60m wide, and the terrain varied from topsoil averaging 0.3–0.6m deep to bog reaching maximum depths of 4m.

The route crossed what had previously been agricultural land, and all topsoil removal was monitored. Monitoring was carried out between 30 November 1998 and 30 April 1999. Although most of the route was well away from built-up areas, a good deal of disturbance was evident. Land improvement and drainage activities had been carried out in many locations along the route, and some of the bog had been used in the past as an unmanaged dump, therefore much of the material recovered had been subject to significant disturbance before being revealed by road excavations.

Several previously unknown sites were uncovered and dealt with under separate licences. These were 98E0412, a partially destroyed fulacht fiadh at Clare td (excavated by Suzanne Zajac, Excavations 1998, 155–6); 98E0551, two partially destroyed fulachta fiadh and a disturbed spread of burnt stones at Clare td (see No. 656, Excavations 1999); and 99E0106, two fulachta fiadh and two disturbed burnt spreads at Ballinsmaula td (see No. 647, Excavations 1999). Known and suspected sites previously identified by the environmental impact statement were dealt with under separate licences (99E0037, Castlegar, see No. 653, Excavations 1999; 99E0051, Castlegar, see No. 654, Excavations 1999; 99E0072, Castlegar, see No. 655, Excavations 1999; 99E0106, Ballinasmaula, see No. 647, Excavations 1999; and 99E0176, Ballinasmaula, see No. 648, Excavations 1999).

'Thornhill', Ballyhaunis Road, Claremorris, Co. Mayo