2025:138 - Mill Road, Saggart, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping has taken place at a site located at Mill Road, Saggart, Co. Dublin. The site was initially reported as containing a field system, DU021-032, which is in the footprint of the proposed eastern access road, located within the current Citywest Hotel & Golf Club. This was identified on a 1971 aerial photograph and was visible as small irregular fields defined by low earthworks. However, this monument lies outside the northern edge of the site boundary, to the northeast of the site, and outside the development area. Despite this, and although the area has been heavily landscaped since its identification as part of a golf course, with no surface remains visible, there is a potential for sub-surface archaeological remains to survive. Furthermore, the Zone of Archaeological Potential associated with the deserted medieval settlement DU021-034, which includes a number of related monuments, is located approximately 375m to the south of the site.

The scrub and vegetation were initially removed by a bulldozer, working in conjunction with a mechanical excavator with a toothless grading bucket, which removed the remaining topsoil and exposed the undisturbed natural subsoils. This was carried out at all times under the direct supervision of a suitably qualified archaeologist, who also inspected the topsoil visually for artefacts. The topsoil varied in depth across the site, measuring between 0.19m and 0.53m in depth, and consisted of moderately overgrown scrub and what appeared to be small mounds of imported topsoil. This contained a large quantity of golf balls due to the proximity to the former golf course, and modern waste. No artefacts were identified within the topsoil. The exposed, undisturbed natural subsoil consisted of a mid-greyish-brown sandy clay with moderate stone content.

No archaeological features were identified with the footprint of the development during the monitoring works, and no artefacts were recovered. There will therefore be no archaeological impact, and no further mitigation is required.