2008:1046 - Skrine and Knockmeane, Roscommon

Monitoring was carried out from 11 August to 16 September 2008 in advance of a wind farm development in the townlands of Skrine and Knockmeane, c. 4km south of Roscommon town. The proposed development is located on a low hill, known locally as Skrine Hill, which rises to a height of 150m OD. The topsoil-strip was undertaken by a large tracked excavator fitted with a 2m-wide grading bucket. The development access road, 1800m in overall length and 5m in width, was cleared of scrub, topsoil-stripped and backfilled with stone. The topsoil varied from 0.1m to 0.25m in depth and overlay orange/brown clay and gravel subsoil which was 0.2–0.35m in depth. Limestone bedrock was frequently exposed along the route. The bases for the three turbines and their associated hardstands were stripped following completion of the access road. As these were located on the slope of the hill the topsoil and subsoil depths were minimal and the underlying bedrock was exposed at each location. No archaeological features, finds or deposits were encountered during monitoring.