2026:226 - Mainscourt, Ballyboghill, Dublin

The Grant of Planning from An Bord Pleanála, with respect to the development of the Mainscourt Solar Farm, Ballyboughill, Co. Dublin, stipulated that the development be subject to a programme of intrusive testing and that subsequent topsoil stripping/general site preparation works excavations be monitored by an archaeologist. It was considered appropriate that such monitoring be undertaken under licence from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

There are no previously identified archaeological monuments within the extent of the site and none were identified by the research and fieldwork undertaken with respect to the preparation of the Archaeological Appraisal which accompanied the original planning application.

There are a number of previously recorded monuments in the environs of the site, the nearest of which are located to the immediate south of the southern extent of the development area. These are an Enclosure (SMR No: DU007-061) and a Field System (SMR No: DU007-061) and are located in Grange Td; the associated SMR Zone of Notification is rectangular in form, with the northern extent coincidental with the southern boundary of the subject development lands.

A programme of Archaeological Testing within the extent of the site was undertaken by Maurice Hurley – Licence No: 24E0139; a total of 28 trenches were excavated and varied in length from 110m to 250m. A number of modern stone-filled drains and agricultural furrows were uncovered but nothing of archaeological interest or potential was noted.

The programme of Archaeological Monitoring was undertaken with respect to a number of individual phases/elements of the project – establishment of temporary storage/construction compound, access roads, drainage, cable and CCTV trenches.

Existing agricultural trackways were utilised, where possible, and in some cases widened to facilitate the development. In general, the construction corridor for drainage routes was subject to topsoil stripping in advance of the excavation of the drains.

All site preparation works and excavations were monitored. All the topsoil stripping for the compound, roads and transformer bases was undertaken by machine fitted with a wide toothless grading/ditching bucket, with narrower buckets utilised for the drainage and cable works through the subsoil. Where feasible, the resultant spoil was raked-over to increase the chances of artefact recovery.

The topsoil/ploughsoil ranged in depth from 0.43–0.48m in depth/thickness and generally comprised moderately firm/compact mid-orange/brown, slightly sandy clay with moderate pebbles and cobbles and very occasional small stones dispersed randomly throughout.

The topsoil/ploughsoil layer sealed the surface of the subsoil, which had been slightly disturbed by the former actions of deep ploughing. The subsoil was generally composed of firm light orange/brown, slightly sandy clays, with areas of orange/brown or yellow/brown gritty/gravel banding and variegated areas of grey/brown clays; such material generally included moderate pebbles and cobbles, with occasional small and medium stones, all dispersed randomly throughout and in some areas evidence for shattered limestone was noted. There was a slight variation in the subsoil in the northern area of the site, where the clay content was greater, resulting in a more tacky material; in addition, it was greyer in colour. Evidence for modern drainage was uncovered throughout the site.

No subsurface features of archaeological interest or potential were uncovered by the monitoring programme and no artefacts of archaeological/historical interest were recovered.