County: Cork Site name: River Sullane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: Not applicable Licence number: 17D0019, 17R0014
Author: Rex Bangerter, ADCO
Site type: Riverine
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 519250m, N 577591m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.944551, -9.174557
Underwater archaeological impact assessment took place of a section of the River Sullane, Baile Bhúirne (Ballyvourney), Co. Cork. The assessment work was undertaken as part of pre-planning conditions associated with the insertion of a temporary access road and bridge crossing as part of the proposed Grousemount Windfarm Development project.
The subsequent archaeological work comprised the comprehensive assessment of a 60m-stretch of the River Sullane, extending from a point 40m upstream to a point 20m downstream of the proposed crossing, ITM: 519250E, 577591N and ITM: 519310E, 577585N respectively. The assessment recorded riverbed topography and provides a detailed account of the existing riverside environment. Assessment also extended c.70m northward, into an adjacent pasture-field, to encompass a shallow waterway (50m section) that once formed part of a millrace at that location, ITM: 519337E, 577679N. Site work comprised systematic non-disturbance inspection of the river channel, its attendant bank structures, and any associated riverine features. The on-site work was carried out on 14 February 2017.
No direct in-river impacts are anticipated as part of the construction of the proposed temporary bridge structure (ITM: 519296E, 577603N); the bridge being of single-span design with a removable deck that is anchored in positon by two concrete abutments. These abutment structures, located on either side of the waterway, will occupy a relatively small footprint of 5m width x 7.7m length and are to be positioned at ITM: 519302E, 577610N (northern abutment) and ITM: 519290E, 577594 (southern abutment). It is understood that the exact nature of any impact to the small waterway (millrace), located within the adjacent pasture field, is yet to be finalised. However, it is likely that a 500mm Ø concrete pipe or similar will be used to channel water-flow beneath the surface of the access road, located at ITM: 519337E, 577679N (centre-point).
No archaeologically significant features were encountered as part of the assessment and impacts arising from the proposed development are limited to the aforementioned waterway, which once formed a millrace as depicted on the OS First Edition Map.
No. 2, Main Street, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny
