2025:554 - Killaghaduff, Swanlinbar, Cavan

Following a geophysical survey (24R0589), test trenching of the site was conducted by Derek Gallagher of ACSU under licence 25E0063. Six test trenches were excavated. No archaeological features or deposits were exposed or identified within Trenches 1–5. Three small burnt spreads were identified within Trench 6, which would have been impacted by the proposed realignment of the access road. It was therefore recommended to monitor the topsoil stripping of the proposed development site and to preserve by record (excavate) the burnt spreads and any additional archaeological features identified.

Licence 25E0063 was transferred from Derek Gallagher of ACSU to Deirdre Murphy of the same company in July 2025. Monitoring of topsoil stripping occurred in October 2025. A rectangular-shaped area, measuring c.68m east to west by c. 115m, was stripped of topsoil. The topsoil was a 0.3–0.5m thick silty clay that varied from a mid-brown to a very dark brown. The natural varied from an orange clay to a mottled grey and orange gravely clay to a grey gravel clay. A criss-cross of stone drains was recorded on site. No archaeological structures, features or deposits were identified in the stripped area.

It was decided by the client not to realign the access road where the burnt spreads were identified during the test trenching, and to instead preserve the features in situ.

Due to the area of archaeological activity being preserved in situ and no further archaeological features being identified in the topsoil stripped area, the proposed development will not impact on any archaeology.