2025:442 - Balseskin, Corrstown, Dubber, Fieldstown and Newbar, Dublin

Licensed archaeological testing within the site of the permitted Fieldstown Substation & compound and also of three targeted sections (Areas 1-3) of the permitted underground cable connection from Fieldstown to the 220kV substation at Finglas, Co. Dublin, was undertaken in May 2025.

Ultimately, a series of 49 test trenches extending for c.3400m were opened across the footprint of the Fieldstown Substation & compound and within three areas of off-road grid route deviations for horizontal directional drilling purposes. All trenches were topsoil stripped using three 13-ton machines fitted with 1.8m-wide grading buckets.

An isolated pit with charcoal-rich deposits was recorded in test trench T55. Consequently, the trench was expanded to the south-west and an area of investigation measuring 4m x 6m was opened and cleaned by hand. No other features were noted within the expanded area. The recorded pit was ‘pear’-shaped in plan and measured 1.6m x 1.1m. A small investigative sondage revealed a steep-sided pit feature, with a possible flat base at a depth of 0.32m and charcoal-rich basal fill.

Nothing of archaeological interest was noted or recorded in any of the other test trenches and no artefacts were recovered during the testing.