2005:1285 - TULLYBUCK/GLENNYHORN/CORLAGAN NORTH/KILCROW/AVALREAGH/CARRICKANURE/ANNAGH/LISMAGUNSHIN, Monaghan

It is proposed to realign the existing N2 between Clontibret and Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. The scheme will commence at the existing N2, c. 1km to the north of Clontibret, and run to the Tullyvin interchange, c. 1.5km to the south of Castleblayney, and will also include ancillary road junctions and other structures. The overall length of the scheme is 15.353km. Test-trenching commenced at the site on 4 April and was completed on 22 April 2005. This was carried out using one 20-tonne and one 14-tonne machine, each equipped with a 2m-wide toothless bucket. The testing consisted of a total of 10,172m of linear test-trenches (20244m2) across an area measuring c. 463400m2. A number of areas were not accessible for trenching due to boggy or overgrown conditions or the ground had been quarried or otherwise disturbed. The total area available for trenching therefore was 267863m2; 20244m2 or 7.55% of this area was tested. One archaeological site was recorded during the linear testing programme.
At Kilcrow 1 (see No. 1271 above) the foundations of three walls of a structure were identified, with the possible remains of an internal floor surface. The north, east and west wall foundations were identified and varied in width from 0.95–1.25m. The width of the structure is c. 7m east–west; the full north–south extent was not identified, but the structure will not extend further than the laneway immediately to the south. The foundations consist of rough stone rubble and loose mortar bonding. The remains of a possible floor were evident on the south side of the structure. The landowner informed us that a small house had stood on the site until c. 60 years ago. Resolution of this site is to take place in 2006.