2021:178 - Ballybrannagh, Kerry

The archaeological testing at Ballybranagh, Ballymacelligott, Co. Kerry was undertaken at the end of October 2021 as a part of planning application to construct a new dwelling house. Testing was requested as burnt mound KE030-074 is situated at the field abutting to the southern limits of the site, which partially extends into its zone of notification. The vast majority of the development site comprises of dense mature forestry and the proposed access roadway was the only section of the site accessible for archaeological testing. Four 20m long north-east/south-west orientated linear test trenches (T1-T4) were opened across the footprint of the proposed access road. The test cuttings were opened with a 13-tonne back-acting track machine using a flat 1.6m-wide grading bucket. The topsoil comprised mid-brown to mid-greyish brown material of an average depth of 0.3–0.4m. The topsoil overlay light grey to yellow impermeable boulder clay. A number of north-south orientated stone drains were noted in trenches T2-T4. Nothing of archaeological interest and no artefacts were recorded during testing.

3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee Co. Kerry