2007:211 - BALLYNALACKAN, Cork

A test excavation was undertaken at Ballynalackan, Kilworth, as part of an impact assessment for planning permission to construct a single dwelling house within the constraint zone of a graveyard (CO028–030(01)) within which there is a former parish church (CO028–030(02)). A roughly surfaced laneway to the west of the house site provides access to another monument, a vernacular house (CO028–054). A graveyard and ivy-clad church exist to the immediate east of the development and the grave markers date largely to the late 18th century. The church is depicted on the OS map as ‘Leitrim Church’ and the historical foundation date is 13th-century.

Three test-trenches were opened, two across the footprint of the house and the other along the percolation area. The topsoil cover was rich and relatively deep and it is likely that the field was used as a kitchen garden when the vernacular house was occupied. The underlying subsoil consisted of firm mottled boulder clay with occasional medium and small stones. The test-trenches were all excavated to a level into the natural subsoil and no features or finds of archaeological significance were noted in any of the investigated areas.