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 546704m, N 779358m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.761101, -8.808273
All topsoil removal and pipe laying associated with the Lough Mask Regional Water-Supply Scheme, Stage III, were monitored. The project involved pipe laying between Claremorris, Knock, Ballyhaunis, Ballindine and Ballyglass, Co. Mayo, and the construction of reservoirs and pump stations. Work began in April 2001 and was completed in December 2002. The overall scheme was 80km long, and the pipeline wayleave was 15–27m wide. Water pipes were laid across undulating pastureland, low-lying marsh, bog and existing roads. In many locations along the pipeline route, land had been previously disturbed by drainage, land reclamation, agricultural activity and local group-water schemes.
Pre-development testing took place within the protected areas of seven Recorded Monuments. These were dealt with under licences 01E0401 (Excavations 2001, No. 913, Greenwood), 01E0520 (Excavations 2001, No. 910, Coolcon), 01E0740 (Excavations 2001, No. 890, Bracklagh/ Cloonbookeighter), 01E0750 (Excavations 2001, No. 914, Kildarra), 01E0752 (Excavations 2001, No. 894, Carrowmore), 01E0961 (Excavations 2001, No. 916, Knockadoon) and 01E0964 (Excavations 2001, No. 917, Levallyroe).
Several new sites were discovered during monitoring. Most of these consisted of disturbed fulachta fiadh. Excavations before pipe laying were completed under licences 01E0679 (Excavations 2001, No. 889, Bekan), 01E0680 (Excavations 2001, No. 891, Carrowcor), 01E0681 (Excavations 2001, No. 898, Cloonbulban), 01E0966 (Excavations 2001, No. 910, Fallakeeran), 01E1081 (Excavations 2001, No. 892, Carrowcor) and 01E0967 (No. 1395, Excavations 2002, Kildarra).
Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
