2023:500 - Kilcumny, Westmeath

Testing was undertaken to fulfil a request from Westmeath County Council in relation to a planning application for the construction of a slatted shed with underground tank and all associated site works. The existing farm complex is located in the townland of and parish of Kilcumny and barony of Delvin. A church complex is located to the immediate west of the site. It comprises Kilcumny church WM008-096000, graveyard WM008-096001 and ecclesiastical enclosure WM008-096002. The entrance from the public road into the farmyard also provides access to the gate of the graveyard which is still in use.

The proposed development of a slatted shed will form part of an existing farm complex. The new building will be located to the rear (south of) an existing number of buildings comprising 2 sheds and a silage pit which in turn are located to the rear of a milking parlour and group of sheds. Ground level in the farmyard has been raised by a height of between 1-2 m at the southern end of the yard. This was done during previous farmyard development works as the material that was dug out from new farm buildings was used to raise the level of the yard. This is reflected in the level of the yard in contrast to the lower level of the field to the rear (south of) of the yard.

A single test trench, 20m in length by 2m in width, was excavated by machine on the footprint of the proposed new building. The soil comprises dump layers with inclusion of modern rubble. A sondage was dug to a depth of 2m in the centre of the trench to examine the depth of the dump layers. The base of the sondage filled with water at a depth of 1.8-2m.

No archaeological stratigraphy, features or artefacts were recorded.