2016:429 - Galway Wind Park, Galway

Galway Wind Park is a windfarm cluster in Cloosh Valley that consists of four windfarms: Lettercraffroe, Uggool, Finnaun and Seecon. The site is located approximately 20km north-west of Galway City, 10km north-west of Moycullen and approximately 5km south-west of Oughterard. The area proposed for the Galway Wind Park contains a total of 30 known or potential sites within the proposed footprint of the development. These comprise three recorded monuments, two field systems of historical and local cultural heritage value, two townland boundaries, and 22 cultural heritage sites such as the remains of lodges, farmsteads, huts, sheepfolds and isolated stone walls. None of these will be impacted upon by the development. Due to its wetland nature (blanket peat) the development site is regarded as an area of medium/high archaeological potential. An Archaeological Management Plan for the project was designed to ensure the appropriate protection and investigation of archaeological remains in advance of and during construction works.

The development consists of the construction of eight turbines in Lettercraffroe townland, 14 in Uggool, 16 in Seecon and 20 in Cloosh townland. The project also included the construction of four permanent meteorological masts, two substations, one Operations Building with associated equipment, and associated infrastructure including new and upgraded access tracks, turbine hardstands, site drainage, borrow pits and material storage areas and ancillary works and electrical cabling. All of these works were monitored. The objectives of the archaeological works were i) to safeguard the archaeological resource from any inadvertent adverse physical impact; ii) to determine the character, extent and quality of any archaeologically significant remains in the parts of the proposed development area where ground disturbance will occur; iii) to mitigate the impact of the development should archaeologically significant features be discovered.

Monitoring was carried out from December 2014 to June 2016. Recorded archaeological sites near ground works were identified, signs were erected and the sites fenced off. A continuous archaeological watching brief was maintained during the removal of between 1m and 4m of blanket peat during ground works. Construction ground works did not encounter archaeological features or deposits. A number of newly discovered features lying outside the development ground works were identified, surveyed, researched and preserved. Two kilns were found in the townland of Uggool: one was hidden behind a large boulder (ITM 510694E,735676N) and the other was built into a field wall (ITM 511110E, 735178N). The kilns provide an insight into the illicit production of poteen (McCarthy 2016). A vernacular house known locally as the Seanteach was identified on a locally prominent rock outcrop, now surrounded by forestry (ITM 509044E, 733065N). The first-edition OS map (1841) shows nine structures, fields and two kilns, all concentrated in one area.

The upstanding structure consists of a drystone-built rectangular house orientated roughly east-west, constructed in roughly coursed roughly dressed granite blocks, and measures 10.77m by 4.27m internally, with 0.8m thick walls 1.8m high. The building has two opposing entrances located slightly off-centre on the long axis. Two windows with splayed in-goings and intact lintels face south, the probable front of the building. There is no indication of a chimney. This appears to have been the home of a herd and his family.

As part of the project archaeologist also participated in a drill to demonstrate the procedures that would take place should archaeological deposits or artefacts be uncovered during groundworks, and toolbox talks to describe the archaeology in the development area to project construction workers. The project archaeologist also visited five primary schools in the area with members of the Roadbridge Environmental Team as part of an outreach program.

Reference:

McCarthy, D. 2016. Clandestine use for kilns in the Connemara landscape. Archaeology Ireland 30(2): p.13–16.

AMS Consultancy, Unit 1, Hector Street Mills, Kilrush, Co. Clare.