County: Louth Site name: Clonmore, Drumcar & Stickillin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LH018-005, LH018-019001-003, LH018-023 Licence number: 21E0036
Author: Gill McLoughlin
Site type: Burnt mound remains & medieval ditches
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 706490m, N 791140m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.858783, -6.381193
Archaeological testing was carried out pre-planning on behalf of Parkwind, relating to the onshore elements of the proposed offshore Oriel windfarm development, Co. Louth.
An initial desktop study and field inspection of the proposed cable route and substation highlighted three areas of archaeological potential and recommended that geophysical survey be carried out in two of the areas and archaeological testing be carried out at each of the three areas. The three areas targeted for investigation were at Clonmore (711035E/789063N), Drumcar (706490E/791140N) and Stickillin (698187E/791055N).
Archaeological testing took place over five days from the 19 April 2021; burnt mound remains were identified in two locations at Stickillin as well as a possible ditched enclosure which it was not possible to rule out as being of archaeological interest. At Drumcar, west of the River Dee, a small ring ditch c.10m in diameter could be prehistoric in date (Bronze Age/Iron Age) and a field system comprising linear ditches and associated activity appears to be medieval in date. To the east of the River Dee further ditches, pits and spreads also appear to be medieval in date and the recovery of medieval pottery from some of the features indicates habitation at or nearby the site. These features could be associated with nearby milling or ecclesiastical activity or both.
Due to overhead and underground powerlines, the trenching at Clonmore could not be completed and as such it is not possible to say whether archaeological remains are present within the cable corridor at that location.
C/o Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy, Lynwood House, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16
