2012:555 - Garracummer/Moanvaun/Falleernnafinoga, Tipperary

Monitoring was undertaken as part of granted planning permission for a Windfarm at Garracummer, Holyford. The works commenced in the autumn of 2011 (Excavations 2011, No. 570) and continued into 2012. There are three recorded archaeological sites within or the immediate the vicinity of the windfarm. These monuments include an enclosure, megalithic structure possible and standing stone possible (TS045-001), a hut site possible (TS045-008) and a megalithic tomb possible (TS045-009). The windfarm project did not impact on the monuments
This windfarm project encompassed three relatively distinct locations: the southern section of six turbines based within Moanvaun townland, the north comprising eight turbines in Garacummer townland and a satellite installation of two turbines in Falleernnafinoga townland. Whereas both the southern and northern sections were predominantly located within modern conifer plantation, the Falleernnafinoga aspect was set within semi-improved upland pasture.
Within the northern section there were two topographically distinct groups of Turbines: Turbines 9-13 were located on the south-eastern side of an upland valley overlooking a relatively flat valley bottom of semi-improved pasture and bog whilst Turbines 7, 8, 14 and 15 were sited on the northern side of a different valley, v-shaped in plan with a river extending north-east/south-west along its base.
Information gained from the previous landowner stated that two orthostats were extant at the time of the conifer planting in the area around one of the turbines (Turbine 7), which was approximately 180m south of TS045-001 further up the hillside. This monument comprised a series of stone circles within a large semi-improved pasture field located beneath to the south of the plantation boundary. During the 19th century this area was rented out as plots for cultivation. Post felling of the coniferous trees as part of the windfarm project, an inspection of the area around Turbine 7 revealed extensive turbary beds. Local information has stated these beds were worked up until as recently. No evidence regarding megalithic activity was found within this area, although the destruction caused by ground disturbance associated with plantation cannot be overstated.
On the northern side of the public road, which separated the northern part of the windfarm from the southern section, was the remains of a potential archaeological feature. It was also sited near the top of a pass connecting two upland valleys Measuring 20.25m x 10.42m it consisted a number of linear banks and was rectangular in plan. Once again, local information proved invaluable when interpreting this feature. Apparently it was used as a shop supplying farmsteads within both the valleys and the hinterland. Furthermore, it offered refreshment for hunters during the shooting season. This area was considered exceptional for grouse shooting; in fact, one of the hills in the vicinity supported such a large grouse population it was known across Munster as “the Grouse Hotel”. At some point in the mid to late 19th century the owners moved to America and the site went into disrepair, then ruin, finally surviving as just a few scars on the ground surface.
Extending along the western boundary of another turbine location (Turbine 6) a ditch was revealed that yielded a sherd of late medieval/early post-medieval pottery. This feature appeared to splay as it extended down the hillside to the north. In fact, when encountered again 200m to the north, it had become a large ditch, which had been re-modelled on at least three occasions. It is considered this feature is the townland boundary as depicted on the OS maps.
Apart from the known recorded monuments which were not impacted upon by the scheme, nothing of definite archaeological provenance was discovered during monitoring of the ground works in the southern and northern sections of the windfarm. With the exception of the site for Turbine 6, the whole of this area had been re-modelled over the last 50 years, be it by land reclamation through systematic ploughing and drainage works to improve fields or deep ploughing for conifer plantation.
No known monuments were recorded within the immediate vicinity of the Falleernnafinoga turbine locations, with only a single archaeological feature discovered during the groundworks. This feature, a burnt spread, offered no dating evidence and was in total isolation. The fact that it was revealed at the interface of the topsoil and natural formation does, however, suggest it was of antiquity and possibly of prehistoric date. It is also significant that it was identified within an area that showed no evidence of deep ploughing whereas the upper, flatter expanses did, with parallel, equidistant furrows scarring the natural deposition. On investigation they were found to all have a similar depth. This consistency of furrows in conjunction with their dimensions dates these features to the 19th century at the earliest. Information gained locally revealed a major land reclamation programme of this area in the early to mid-20th century.

Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.