2025:152 - Lisnageeragh, Edgeworthstown, Longford

Archaeological monitoring of site investigation and construction works for the development of a solar farm and associated site development and landscaping works was undertaken by Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) in Lisnageeragh, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.
A full archaeological and built heritage assessment for this development was prepared by John Cronin & Associates in November 2015. The original scope of the proposed solar farm was considerably larger and consisted of several fields in pasture within the red line boundary. The assessment found sixteen sites listed on the Sites and Monuments Record, eleven of which are recorded on the Record of Monuments and Places within a 1km radius of the development. Only one Recorded Monument, LF015-051—- (ringfort-rath), was located within the footprint of the development and a further fifteen Recorded Monuments and recorded sites were within a 1km radius.
The ringfort-rath (LF015-051—) required complete avoidance of any construction activity, panel installation or ground works. A Construction Exclusion Zone (CEZ) of 25m beyond the ringfort’s external bank and fosse (overall max. diameter 35m) was applied thereby avoiding any direct negative impact on the site or any potential adjacent subsurface features or finds. The CEZ was fenced off to avoid vehicular movements, setting down of plant and machinery and dumping of spoil in this area during construction works. Similarly, it was recommended that the design siting of any trackways, cabling or inverters was not located in close proximity to this CEZ. The monument was fully preserved in situ.
The archaeological monitoring of excavation of six trial pits, topsoil stripping for haul roads, a compound area and substations, and trenching for cabling to connect the solar panels to the transformer substation, was carried out on an intermittent basis on 12 July 2023 and between 7 May 2024 and 10 January 2025.
No potential archaeological objects, features or deposits were found during the monitoring