2023:087 - Tullamore Solar Farm, Tullamore, Drombeg and Coolkeragh, Kerry

Twenty-five archaeological test trenches, totalling 1055m in length, were excavated across the footprint of proposed access track and inverter locations. It was necessary to omit Trenches 8, 9 & 13 from the testing programme as they fell within environmental exclusion zones which were erected around the substation area during the enabling works for that portion of the development. The testing programme revealed that the majority of the subject lands had evidently been improved during modern times and consisted of moderate to good quality pasture flanked by deep drainage ditches. The underlying subsoil was generally very mixed and had the appearance of being disturbed/churned during the land improvement works. Removed field boundaries and frequent modern stone-filled land drains were further indicative of the land improvement efforts.

However, the testing programme did uncover evidence of two previously unrecorded archaeological sites. Within Trench 4, in the south-western portion of the site, a mound of heat-shattered stones contained within a matrix of dark grey to black clayey silt (T.4; F.1) was uncovered. While within Trench 18, a spread of heat-shattered stones within a matrix of dark grey to black charcoal-rich, clayey silt (T.18; F.1) was uncovered. Both sites relate to the usage of pyrolithic technology and likely date to the late prehistoric period (c. 2400 BC to AD 400).

3a Westpoint Trade Centre, Link Road, Ballincollig, Cork