2025:248 - Gas to Lumcloon Project Walterstown, Calverstown, Kilbrennan, Piercetown, Castlelost West, Oldtown, Kiltotan and Collinstown, Westmeath

An archaeological assessment (Monitoring) was carried out in the townlands Walterstown, Calverstown, Kilbrennan, Piercetown, Castlelost West, Oldtown, and Kiltotan and Collinstown, Co. Westmeath. This assessment was caried out as part of the recommended archaeological mitigation measures put in place in relation to a large scale linear development, located to the northwest of Rochfortbridge in County Westmeath.

The recommendations were based on a previous geophysical survey along the route of the development which identified several potential archaeological sites at Castlelost West, Kilbrennan and Oldtown, carried out by Donald Murphy, Robert Breen and Jeanne Rochford of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd (ACSU) under licence 24R0194. Subsequent targeted test excavations (test trenching) were carried out by Glenn Gibney of ACSU under licence 24E0743. These excavations confirmed the findings from the geophysical survey and clarified the presence of five archaeological areas; Kilbrennan 1 (Field system), Kilbrennan 2 (Kiln), Castlelost West 1 (Pits), Castlelost West 2 (Pits) and Oldtown 1 (ditches and pits). As the development would have a direct negative impact on these sites, preservation by record (archaeological excavation) was recommended under licence issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Due to the presence of archaeology within the footprint of the development, and in consideration of the wider archaeological landscape, it was recommended that topsoil stripping across the entire development be monitored, which was carried out under the same licence.

The topsoil varied in depth between 0.14m and 0.78m. The natural primarily consisted of a light brown clay. However, there were variations in the amount of stone present within this natural. Some areas, such as at the site of Kilbrennan 1, contained large amounts of stone and gravels while in other areas there was very little stone or they were contained within depressions within the natural.

No additional archaeological features or deposits were identified were identified during the archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping along the route of the development. Excluding the archaeological sites previously identified at Castlelost, Kilbrennan and Oldtown, the development will have no archaeological impact and no further archaeological mitigation is required.

The details of the archaeological excavations carried out in the sites mentioned above will be provided in the associated excavation reports on completion of the archaeological excavations and post-excavation programme.