2007:256 - Dundeady Island, Cork

An application to Cork County Council to construct a traditional-style dwelling house within the zone of archaeological potential around a possible coastal promontory fort (CO144–039(01)) and a later tower-house, Dundeady Castle (CO144–039(03)), and bawn (CO144–039(05)) led to a request for an impact assessment to be prepared. The assessment included a test excavation to determine if any features or finds of archaeological significance were present at the location of the proposed dwelling house. The house site is close to the cliff edge on a 40.5m-high headland known as Dundeady Island. The island is joined to the mainland by an isthmus on top of which are the ruined remains of Dundeady Castle. A modern bungalow is located within the bawn area and a number of farm buildings are located in the immediate vicinity, some of which have been built against the inner face of the curtain wall. The southernmost point of Dundeady Island is known as Galley Head and a lighthouse was constructed here in the mid-19th century.
The proposed house site is located on sloping ground to the rear of the modern bungalow and is not visible either from the tower-house or from the cluster of houses flanking the road that slopes dramatically southwards towards the island. Five test-trenches were excavated on the site. The topsoil consisted of friable black earth and varied in depth from 0.23m to 0.39m. The surface beneath the topsoil was made up of friable mottled orange/brown boulder clay with frequent loose shale. No features or finds of archaeological importance were uncovered in any of the excavated areas.