2007:1882 - Coolnagun Bog, Bottomy/Clonava/ Clonconnell/Clonkeen/Coolnagun/ Dunamon/Fearmore/Shrubbywood, Westmeath

This bog was surveyed as part of the 2007 Peatland Survey which concentrated on Bord na Móna’s (BnM) Cuil na Gun and Mountdillon groups. It is located 3km west of Coole village. It is south of Milkernagh Bog (see No. 1881 above) and it too has been in moss peat production for two years, having previously been used for sod peat production. There was much evidence for redeposited peat, with large areas of bog containing buried rubbish in the form of concrete, plastic, peat sods and modern timber. There was a prominent ridge running north–south across the middle of the bog, with some large fallen oak trunks lying on it. To the south was a large area still in sod peat production, a mosaic of large fields, old cuttings, stacks of cut sods and scrub. Although worked by private contractors, it was owned by BnM and so it was included in the field-walking.
Only one area of possible archaeology was found in the main bog and none in the private area. CNG001 comprised four sightings of timber with metal axe-cut toolmarks. The area where the wood was found was very disturbed and contaminated with modern material and therefore the site may be modern.