County: Mayo Site name: LOUGH MASK REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEME STAGE III
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0314
Author: Bernard Guinan
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 533889m, N 775378m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.723876, -9.001736
All topsoil removal and pipe-laying associated with the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme Stage III is being monitored under this licence. The project involves pipe-laying in County Mayo between Claremorris, Knock, Ballyhaunis, Ballindine and Ballyglass. The scheme also involves the construction of reservoirs and pump stations. Work began in April 2001 and is ongoing at the time of writing in March 2002.
The overall scheme is 80km long. The size of the pipeline way-leaves varies from 15m to 27m in width. The water pipe is laid across undulating pastureland, low-lying marsh, bog and within existing roads. In many locations along the pipeline route, land was previously disturbed by drainage, land reclamation, agricultural activity and local group water schemes.
To date, pre-development testing has taken place within the protected areas of seven recorded monuments. These are dealt with under separate licences: see Excavations 2001, Nos 913, 01E0401 (Greenwood); 900, 01E0520 (Coolcon); 890, 01E0740 (Bracklagh, Cloonbrookeighter); 914, 01E0750 (Kildarra); 894, 01E0752 (Carrowmore); 916, 01E0961 (Knockadoo) and 917, 01E0964 (Levallyroe).
Several new sites have been discovered during monitoring. The majority of these consist of disturbed fulachta fiadh. To date, excavations in advance of pipe-laying have been completed under the following licences: Nos 889, 01E0679 (Bekan); 891, 01E0680 (Carrowcor); 898, 01E0681 (Cloonbulban); 910, 01E0966 (Fallakeeran); 892, 01E1081(Carrowcor). Excavation is ongoing under licence 01E0967 (Kildarra).
Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
