2026:241 - Ballintotis Tower House, Cork

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during minor external groundworks at the base of an existing sixteenth-century tower house in the townland of Ballintotis, Co. Cork.

The works comprised the careful removal of a shallow layer of modern overburden and vegetation immediately surrounding the base of the tower. These groundworks were undertaken to facilitate drainage improvements, minor regrading of the ground surface, and the placement of new stone chippings along the existing driveway. In addition, the works were necessary to provide firm, level ground for the erection of scaffolding and to fully expose the basal batter of the tower, allowing for the application of a new external lime render as part of the conservation works.

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken over the course of one day in August 2026. Apart from the exposure of the tower’s foundation underlying the basal batter on the eastern side, no archaeological features or deposits were identified during the groundworks. A small assemblage of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century pottery was recovered from disturbed spoil deposits; however, none of the material was associated with stratified archaeological deposits or features.