2025:349 - OFFALY EAST MIDLAND TRAIL NETWORK: Daingean Townsparks, Clonad, Mountlucas, Cavemount and Ballycon bogs, Offaly

Archaeological Testing was undertaken on Bord Na Móna lands in east Co. Offaly in Daingean Townsparks, Clonad, Mountlucas, Cavemount and Ballycon bogs. Works took place from 18–20 August 2025. Constraints in the form of inaccessible, overgrown areas or areas of hardstanding resulted in Trench 1 remaining unexcavated and Trenches 2, 3 & 10 being shortened. As a result 10 trenches totalling 582 linear metres were excavated along a 20km route instead of the proposed 11 trenches (660 linear metres). Trenches located by a proposed gate were excavated to a depth of >0.5m.

Most trenches contained only two contexts; Upper layer and Bog. The Upper layer varied in depth across site depending on location. In the harvested bog the upper layer comprised dry, loose black turf 0.1–0.3m deep, sometimes containing modern debris such as plastics. In other, more overgrown areas, this upper layer contained more roots and, as a result, was more humic and waterlogged. In all trenches Bog was encountered at varying depths. This comprised a pinkish brown waterlogged humic layer. In most trenches subsoil was not reached. Trench 7 comprised a thin layer of humic soil measuring 0.2m deep, overlying a stoney mottled grey clay, stoney, subsoil. Subsoil was also encountered in Trench 10 at a depth of 0.4m.

Trench 1 could not be excavated as the site was in accessible due to overgrowth. Trenches 2, 3 & 10 were shortened due to overgrown hedgerow and hard standing.

Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in the course of the works.