County: Roscommon Site name: AMERICA/CAPPAYUSE/COOLUMBER/ CLOONBEGGAUN/CLOONBURREN/CLOONIFF/ DERRINEEL/MOORE SOUTH, CLOONIFF BOG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 09E0405
Author: Nicola Rohan, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit D, Kells Business Park, Cavan Road, Kells, Co. Meath.
Site type: Peatland survey
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 587491m, N 764214m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.627591, -8.189096
The Re-assessment Survey 2009 included Blackwater, Ballaghurt, Bloomhill, Clooniff, Garryduff and Kilmacshane Bogs, which are part of the Bord na M)na (BnM) Blackwater group of bogs. The Blackwater group of bogs was initially surveyed by the IAWU in 1992 and 1993. The objective of the Reassessment Survey was to re-identify any surviving previously recorded sites, identify new sites and subsequently record all archaeological sites identified during the course of survey. Clooniff Bog is located 3.75km north of Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly. Within the BnM Blackwater group it is located west of Blackwater Bog on the western side of the Shannon, opposite Clonmacnoise. It has a total area of 506ha, the majority of which is in full production. There is a small area of cutaway that is covered with heather close to the western side of the bog.
A total of ten archaeological sites, identified during the first-round survey of Clooniff Bog in 1992, are lodged in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. The previously recorded sites were largely confined to a cluster of sites at the northern edge of Clooniff Bog.
Clooniff Bog was in full production at the time of survey. A handheld GPS was used to locate findspots for the previously recorded sites; however, nothing remained of the sites and drainage pumps and silt ponds were located in this area at the time of survey. No new archaeological sites were identified within either area of Clooniff Bog.
