2026:097 - Millfarm, Coolalough, Gotoon and Knocklong, Limerick

A limited programme of test trenching was carried out at a proposed development site in March to April 2026. This was done early in the project to aid in the design of fixed infrastructural elements of the development. Fourteen linear test trenches with a combined length of 410m were excavated. Natural subsoil, archaeological features or bedrock were identified at a depth of between 0.25m and 0.7m below modern surface level.
No difficulties were encountered during the works, and all trenches were excavated to the complete extent as outlined in the method statement submitted to the National Monuments Service.

This was guided by a geophysical survey of the area (25R0032) and targeted anomalies identified from the survey. In four locations, features of archaeological significance were confirmed where they had been indicated from the geophysical survey; these consisted of three ring-ditches and one larger enclosure. No archaeological features that had not been identified from the geophysical survey were found during the testing programme. The three ring-ditches were all 6.5m to 8m in diameter and only survived to a depth of 0.03m to 0.06m under the topsoil. The enclosure has a diameter of c.30.5m. Areas of modern disturbance and introduced material were noted within the enclosure, but other features noted may have been older.

A metal detector was used to aid in finds recovery (under detection device licence no. 26R0082). A quantity of metal was recovered from the topsoil, in addition to ceramics and glass, but none were archaeological artefacts.