2025:183 - Blainroe Golf Club, Kilpoole Upper, Wicklow

A proposed greenfield development for a driving range associated with Blainroe Golf Club spanned 7.09 hectares and was situated within the zone of Recorded Monuments WI031-012, enclosure and WI031-012001, ring-ditch.  Adjacent to the site lay Recorded Monument WI031-011, enclosure and a cluster of 8 ring-ditches, including WI031-046 ring-ditch and others. Additionally, approximately 390m northeast stands the coastal promontory fort, WI031-047.

Given the potential impact on these archaeological features, a geophysical survey was recommended by the National Monuments Service as Further Information to identify both known and undiscovered archaeology that might be affected by the proposed development. The development was also recommended to be re-located further to the west to avoid a direct impact on WI031-012, enclosure and WI031-012001, ring-ditch, these features were not test trenched. The test trenching elsewhere throughout the development site was to confirm if the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey are of archaeological significance and has enabled an archaeological assessment of the proposed development with an impact and mitigation section to be prepared and submitted as Further Information. The test trenching was completed in May 2024.

Eleven areas of archaeological significance were identified, including four cremation burials (Trenches 1, 4, 6), two ring-ditches (Trenches 9, 18), a potential 5-meter structure (Trench 19), partial enclosure remains (Trench 23), pits and post-holes (Trenches 1, 3), and four spreads of burnt mound material (Trenches 7, 14, 15).

A mitigation strategy for archaeological monitoring of the ground works following a redesign of the development was agreed so as to avoid, reduce or offset any adverse impacts on archaeological or cultural heritage. Archaeological monitoring of groundworks was completed between August 2024 and March 2025. No archaeological features were impacted by the proposed development. A total of 21 flint artefacts were uncovered from the topsoil and the specialist analysis is now complete. The Blainroe lithics assemblage was broadly diagnostic of the Neolithic, the presence of removals and retouched tools, including scrapers, and a general absence of cores or large core tools favours domestic or working/hunting activity at the site over more industrialised lithics production or quarrying.