2025:340 - Maynooth Substation, Taghadoe and Windgates, Kildare

A test excavation was carried out over several days in September 2025 on a site beside a substation outside Maynooth, Co. Kildare. In total, 26 trenches were excavated, with a sum total of 1,602 linear metres. The trenches were placed over anomalies detected in a geophysical survey (24R0596) and to cover the entire area of the site.

The natural ground was largely a compact, mid-orangish-brown boulder clay with frequent small subangular stones and decayed stones. The topsoil ranged in depth from 0.2m to 0.7m, with an average depth of 0.4m.

Traces of furrows or small land drains were found in some of the trenches, however, they were devoid of anything of archaeological or historical significance. The site appears to have been largely undisturbed agricultural land that has been ploughed in some areas.

An enclosure (KD010-068—-) is located immediately outside the site boundary to the southwest. This was identified in aerial imagery and was surveyed and confirmed as part of the geophysical survey (24R0596). The area of the enclosure was subsequently excluded from the development site and a buffer zone around the monument was proposed.