2017:373 - GLENCOLLINS, BALLYNAHULLA, GLENTANEDOWNEY, CLASHYKINLEEN WEST, BLUEFORD, CLASHYKINLEEN EAST, BARNACURRA, BALLYDUANE WEST AND BALLYDUANE SOUTH, BALLYDESMOND, Cork

Construction work commenced on a 110kV grid connection cable route in 2016 – the Knockacummer grid connection. The purpose of the scheme is to facilitate a permanent connection of Knockacummer Wind Farm to the National Grid. The development comprises a 110kV underground cable, approximately 19.5 km in length, which is situated in the north-west Cork region and extends across the county border into east Kerry. The route commences at Glenlara Substation in the townland of Clonfert, Co. Cork, approximately 2 km south-west of Newmarket, and concludes at Ballynahulla Substation, Co. Kerry, approximately 2 km west of the village of Ballydesmond. The cable route follows the existing road infrastructure commencing at the Glenlara Substation and follow the existing road network south-east to Ballynahulla Substation.

An archaeological and cultural heritage assessment of the then proposed grid connection was carried out by John Cronin and Associates in 2015. The assessment comprised a walk-over survey and desktop assessment and identified areas where monitoring of the excavation of the cable trench was recommended, primarily where the cable route was within 50m of a recorded monument.

Monitoring along the cable route commenced in 2016 (Excavations Bulletin No. 2016:677) in a number of locations along the public road, primarily where such works are located within 50m of a recorded monument. They consist of RMP sites, NIAH sites and bridges of local cultural heritage merit. No archaeology was uncovered in the areas monitored either in 2016 or 2017.