2018:564 - Emlaghfad, Ballymote, Sligo

The proposed development involves the construction of an extension to the Ballymote Heritage Walk at Emlaghfad church (SL033-144001 and 6) and graveyard (SL033-144002). The proposed trail will be 100m in length and 1.5m in width, consisting of a terram-type geosynthetic layer overlaid with 0.3m of clause 804 compacted and topped with 50mm of compacted quarry dust.
Monitoring took place in November 2018, along the 85m stretch of works as it passed to the west of the graveyard. However the graveyard is just one of a complex of archaeological sites covered under SL033:144-, these are 1) the Church of Ireland Church; 2) The graveyard; 3) hospital; 4) possible souterrain; 5) ecclesiastical enclosure; 6) early church; 7) bullaun stone; 8) bastioned fort.
Archaeological works consisted of the monitoring of the topsoil strip undertaken in preparation for the laying of a pedestrian heritage trail. The work was undertaken using a tracked machine fitted with a blade or toothless bucket.
Work at the northern end of the monitored section covered the projected line of the bastioned fort (SL033:144008) as it crossed the north-south line of the trackway. The stripping revealed a layer of loose stone and gravel, presumably associated with the original use of the trackway as an access from Ballymote to the graveyard (current vehicular access to the graveyard is via the south entrance). Stripping works ceased at this level and nothing of archaeological significance was noted.
Stripping works continued along the outside face of the western wall to the graveyard. Some 0.1-0.2m of scrub and rank grass overburden was removed to reveal a dark brown humic-rich subsoil. The ground along the east side of the exposed track was firmer suggesting that the west side of the path probably contained a backfilled field drain. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in this section.

AHC Ltd, 36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan, Co. Down BT31 9LF