2022:215 - Ummeras Bog, Offaly

Archaeological monitoring took place between August 2021 and January 2022 in respect to the Enhanced Decommissioning Restoration and Rehabilitation Scheme (EDRRS) at Ummeras Bog, Co. Kildare/Co. Offaly. Ummeras bog encompasses the townlands of Ummeras Beg, Ummeras More, Pollagorteen, Clonmoyle West, Clogheen and Coolsickin or Quinsborough in Co. Kildare within the civil parishes of Lackagh and Rathangan and Baronies of Offaly East and Offaly West. It also encompasses the townlands of Clonbrin and Pollaghnagraigue in Co. Offaly within the civil parish of Clonsast and Barony of Coolestown. The monitoring was carried out by Colum Hardy, Fintan Walsh and Niall Jones of Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd (AMS).

Rehabilitation works were carried out as part of the EDRRS announced by the Government in 2020. The scheme involves enhanced decommissioning, rehabilitation and restoration measures, initially targeting c. 33,000 hectares in over 80 Bord na Móna (BNM) bogs. This scheme seeks to achieve enhanced decommissioning, rehabilitation and restoration of cutaway peatlands in approximately one third of the BNM landholding. The aim of the project was that all surviving archaeological deposits within and beneath the surviving peatlands be preserved.

Ummeras bog, Co. Offaly which was one of four specific bogs in BNM ownership which was part of a pilot monitoring and recording brief. The other bogs included Pollagh Bog, Co. Offaly (21E0545), and Edera (21E0544) and Derrycolumb (21E0543) bogs in Co. Longford.

The rehabilitation works consisting of cell production and drain blocking were archaeologically monitored between August 2021 and January 2022. The peat fields and drain sections were also monitored and inspected for any possible archaeological features. No potential archaeological finds, features, or deposits were noted during the course of the archaeological monitoring.

C/O AMS Fahy's Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare