2023:729 - Moneygurney, Monfieldstown, Mounthovel, Maryborough, Castletreasure, Ballinimlagh, Ballinrea, Shannonpark, Carrigaline Middle, Shanbally, Ballyhemiken, Raffeen, Barnahely, Loughbeg and Ringaskiddy, Cork

The M28 Cork Ringaskiddy Project is an approved road development, under the terms of the National Monuments (Amendments) Act 1930-2014, and is the subject of directions issued by the Minister Housing, Local Government and Heritage (ref. A00080). The project is being progressed by Cork County Council (CCC) in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and will comprise the construction of approximately 12.5 kms of new road linking the N40 Bloomfield Interchange to the east of Ringaskiddy, in County Cork. The registration number, E005377, was allocated by the National Monument Service for test excavation of the proposed route, under the direction of Patricia Long of Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd. She was assisted in the fieldwork by licence-eligible directors Ross MacLeod, Kate Taylor, Graham Hull and Bruce Sutton. 

The Stage (i) investigations were undertaken to comply with mitigation commitments in the Cultural Heritage chapter of the EIS for the scheme which was compiled by RPS (Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd in RPS 2017). Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd was awarded the Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract Stage (i)-(iv) in December 2021. The work was conducted by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd (in conjunction with partners TVAS Ireland Ltd) on behalf of Cork County Council and complied fully with the Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavation (DoAHGI 1999), the Code of Practice for Archaeology agreed between the Minister of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (2017), other relevant codes of practice and guidelines, and with the requirements of the contract for archaeological services and the National Monuments Service registration number.  

Phase 1 Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations, Stage (i)c Test Excavations in Wetland/Scrub, Stage (i)m Test Excavations in Felled Woodland/Cleared Scrub and all Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Surveys was undertaken between the 24 January and 22 March 2022, with further areas accessed on the 14 June 2022 and between the 7 and 12 July 2022. Interim reports on the results of Areas 30 and 31 were issued immediately upon completion, as those areas were prioritised for Stage (ii) and (iii) works. An Interim report on the results of all Phase 1 work (including in Areas 30 and 31) was issued in July 2022, and this was further updated in March 2023.   

Two areas outside the roadtake where subject to Stage (i) testing where works related to service diversions that necessitated ground disturbance. These areas were tested in May and September 2022.  

Phase 2 of the Stage (i) work was completed between 20 and 29 March 2023, following clearance works. 

A total of 50,177.41 linear meters of test trenching and 17 townland boundary surveys were completed during Phase 1 work within the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). This represents 13.11% of the trenchable Stage (i)a area, 12.8% of trenchable Stage (i)c area and 12.29% of trenchable Stage i(m) area. This resulted in the identification of 127 areas of archaeology that merit further investigation. These can be grouped into 38 sites which are being recommended for Stage (ii) stripping and pre-excavation services. On foot of this recommendation the client has instructed a total of 94,663.71 m² of Stage (ii) stripping to be carried out.   Only one of these sites was known prior to works associated with the road scheme (Burnt Mound CO086-115), while a second is the site of an enclosure complex that had been discovered in earlier investigations related to the scheme (CO187-055). 

A total of 749 linear meters of trenching was carried out in extensions to Areas 7 and 30. These were areas outside the CPO for the M28. Archaeology was identified in the extension to Area 30 and Stage (ii) stripping and pre-excavation services were recommended. As a result, a total of 1,994 m² of Stage (ii) stripping was instructed by the client.   

During Phase 2 a total of 1,999 linear meters of test trenching were completed within the CPO. This represents 15.97% of the trenchable Stage (i)a area, 11.85% of trenchable Stage (i)c area and 11.51% of trenchable Stage i(m) area. A large proportion of the Phase 2 area was not trenchable due to the topography and the presence of underground utilities, however there was sufficient coverage of areas where there was potential for archaeological preservation.  No archaeological features were identified and there is no recommendation for further work in these areas.  

All the sites identified during Phase 1 testing are within the proposed route of the new road and would suffer a direct and severe impact during construction. It is recommended that a suitable area around each archaeological area is stripped of topsoil to further define the nature and extent of the site. The recommended extents of such areas are outlined below and in the accompanying figures. Where archaeological remains are confirmed, and where they cannot be preserved in situ, it is recommended that they fully excavated and recorded prior to construction.