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.