2006:858 - Lartigue Road, Ballybunion, Kerry

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping and a subsequent testing programme was carried out in advance of a new development at Lartigue Road, Ballybunion, Co. Kerry. The monitoring programme was requested due to the presence of a levelled ringfort in the southern part of the development site. A 20m buffer zone was fenced off around this monument and it was not directly impacted on by the proposed development. Prior to the commencement of this monitoring programme it was noted that extensive disturbance related to construction work had occurred at the northern end and western edge of the development site. Due to this truncation, monitoring was restricted to the southern and eastern parts of the development site.
A number of features, all of modern date, were identified during topsoil-stripping. These included a large field drain, a number of smaller field drains and a series of agricultural furrows. A subsequent programme of testing was also carried out at the site. The developer proposed a second phase of construction at the site, which would involve the construction of two more houses. This would necessitate the reduction of the original 20m buffer around the ringfort to a 15m-wide buffer zone. To assess the impact of the second phase of the development, three-test-trenches were excavated in the intervening area between the original 20m buffer zone and the proposed new 15m buffer. No finds or deposits of archaeological interest were noted in any of the test-trenches excavated.