2025:268 - Kilmoney, Cork

The archaeological testing was undertaken as part of a pre-planning Cultural Heritage Impact assessment for a proposed large-scale residential development (LRD) situated in Kilmoney townland, on the south-western outskirts of Carrigaline, in County Cork. Located immediately south of ‘The Mountain Road’, the proposed development encompasses c.12.4ha of agricultural land and woodland situated c.0.2km west of the R611.
A geophysical survey (Licence 23R0032) was completed by John Nicholl (Target Archaeological Geophysics Ltd), which recorded no features of definite archaeological character and no anomalies of significant potential. Poorly defined linear responses, small and large-scale positives of uncertain origin and trends have been recorded. None of these anomalies exhibit patterns typical of buried archaeological remains, and the majority are expected to relate to past cultivation, responses from former/suspected former boundaries, natural soil/geological variation and/or modern ferrous. Three fields were not surveyed due to environmental conditions or poor access.
Testing of the proposed development site was undertaken to assess the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey and to conduct broader testing across the site.

Of the 44 trenches excavated across the proposed development site, Trenches 2 and 21 contained small features of possible archaeological potential. Two isolated pits were identified in Trenches 5 and 9, both are considered to be of limited archaeological potential and probably relate to vegetation burning. Features identified in the other test trenches correspond to linear agricultural drains and furrows most likely to be of relatively modern date and are not considered to be of archaeological significance.