2022:408 - BALLYBRITTAS, Wexford

The creation of a new pathway at Ballybrittas, Co. Wexford, was carried out under archaeological supervision. The path was built to facilitate access to Ballybrittas portal tomb, WX031-010. The tomb was previously inaccessible to the public. The portal tomb is located within a wooded grove, which cartographic sources suggest has been rough ground at least since the 19th century. In this area an archaeologically sensitive approach was undertaken and no topsoil removal took place. Instead, terram geotextile membrane was laid directly over the original ground surface and this was then covered in stone, to form a path 2m wide. The pathway was kept between 7m and 26m from the tomb at all times and stones/boulders were left in situ. All works in the grove area, including the targeted removal of vegetation, were carried out under archaeological supervision (in November 2022). To reiterate, no subsurface excavation took place during this monitoring programme and the portal tomb and its immediate surrounds were not impacted by the pathway.