2008:598 - Churchtown, Kerry

Galvin Properties Ltd intended to develop most of the demesne of Churchtown House, Beaufort, 12km west of Killarney. Works are to take place in six phases, each with individual planning permission. The licence 08E0933 was issued to cover all phases.
Phase 1 required pre-development testing to be undertaken and the report submitted as further information. Sixteen test-trenches were excavated across the site. Trenches were set at 10m intervals, orientated north–south, 1.5m wide, c. 0.3–0.4m deep and from 130m to 165m long. Generally, topsoil was composed of stony mid-brown silty clay over stony grey/yellow clay subsoil. Numerous drains truncated the site. These were orientated east–west and were shallow and stone-filled; some included orange clay pipes. The site was waterlogged, particularly on the eastern side and sections of the trenches filled quickly with water.
The remains of six fulachta fiadh were recorded. Fulachta fiadh 1 was clearly visible in the line of Trench 1 before testing commenced and consisted of a roughly circular mound, c. 0.75–1m in height. The mound was composed of small heat-shattered stones within black charcoal-enriched silt. There was a slight hollow on the east side. The feature was visible for c. 18–20m in diameter and would be directly impacted upon by proposed development works.
Fulachta fiadh 2 was located in Trench 4. It was visible in low relief, c. 0.4–0.5m in height, and consisted of a low circular mound, c. 15m in diameter. It was flattened on the surface and likely to have been partially levelled and spread out as a result. The stony black matrix is typical of fulacht fiadh material.
Fulachta fiadh 3 consisted of the remains of a roughly circular flattened mound, c. 0.3–0.5m in height and c. 13m in diameter, located in Trench 5. The composition of the mound was typical of fulachta fiadh remains.
Fulachta fiadh 4 was located 7m south of Feature 3, between Trenches 5 and 6, and both features were possibly associated. It was composed of the remains of a mound in very low relief c. 0.2–0.3m high. It was visible for 10m in diameter and included a similar matrix to the other features.
Fulachta fiadh 5 was found in Trench 9. A low mound was visible, c. 0.3–0.4m in height with a diameter of 8–10m. The same black/brown, angular burnt-stone matrix was visible immediately below the sod layer.
Fulachta fiadh 6 was recorded at the northern limit of Trench 12. It was not visible on the surface and was truncated on the northern side by a farm track. It was composed of a black/brown silt matrix with heat-shattered stones. It extended for 12m east–west and 6m to the south.
Features 1–5 were all visible above ground and only disturbed during testing to establish the nature and extent of the archaeological remains. While Feature 6 was not visible above ground it is likely to have been badly disturbed as a result of traffic and works on the nearby farm track. All six features have been plotted on the development site layout and would be directly impacted upon as a result of proposed works. The fulachta fiadh and their immediate environs are to be fully excavated if full planning permission is granted.
Phase 2 involved the development of a nine-hole golf academy course with all associated siteworks. It also required pre-development testing and the results were to be included with further information.
Twenty-eight test-trenches were excavated over a period of six days in December 2008. All trenches were roughly orientated north–south, 1.5m wide and varied in depth from 0.25–0.4m. Trench 1 was excavated 5m west of the eastern boundary and was 320m long. The remaining 27 trenches were excavated at intervals of c. 15m. The final trench was located in the western limit of the site and was 24m long.
Topsoil was composed of a shallow layer of dark-brown sandy silt and included small stones. It overlay grey/yellow sandy clay subsoil with pockets of stones. Topsoil was waterlogged and numerous natural springs were recorded. The site had been drained in the 1970s and included shallow, wide drains filled with stones together with narrow drains with orange clay pipes.
The remains of one fulacht fiadh were recorded at the southern limit of Trench 23, 145m south-east of the north-western corner of the proposed development site. Once revealed, the feature was visible for c. 20m but was likely to have been truncated by the 2m-deep boundary ditch on the south-west side. The feature was situated on a natural slope, was not obvious as a monument above ground level and had been spread out over time. It was composed of typical fulacht fiadh material of black charcoal-rich silt packed with heat-shattered stones. Evidence of burning was also visible in the remains.