2007:1423 - Dernaglug, Monaghan

An archaeological investigation was undertaken for the proposed development of lands in Dernaglug townland, Doohamlet, Co. Monaghan. The proposed development was for the construction of 50 detached and semi-detached houses and a crèche, with the normal associated access roads and service lines. The largely greenfield site is some 5ha in overall extent, sloping down from east to west towards the course of a disused mill-race associated with corn- and flaxmills which were once located to the west of the site. The southern boundary of the site is delimited by the curving line of the remains of a mill-race, with two sluices marked on the IG map surveyed in 2004. The remaining boundaries are defined by existing field fences. A deep, steep-sided ditch divides the site roughly east–west.
There are no known archaeological sites within the proposed development area. However, in the locality are three ringforts, an earthwork and a crannog. The three ringforts are located on or close to the summits of drumlin ridges. In addition, there are the remains of a mill-race and sluices, associated with flax- and cornmills to the south-east, south-west and west of the proposed development area. The placename ‘Dernaglug’ may be derived from Doire na gClog, ‘oak grove of the bell’, and ‘Doohamlet’ from Dúthamhlacht, ‘black plague burial’, suggesting a burial site in the area.
Due to the size of the greenfield development, and the relative archaeological wealth of the surrounding area, pre-development testing was required of the site. A total of 24 trenches were excavated across the confines of the site. The stratigraphic sequence of the site was characterised by topsoil, up to 0.5m deep, immediately overlying undisturbed subsoil and bedrock. Nothing of archaeological interest was found.