2026:073 - Ballindoon, Sligo

Planning permission is being sought for the construction of a domestic dwelling, garage, access and all associated landscaping and services on a green field site at Ballindoon, Co. Sligo. Although there are no known archaeological sites from within the red line boundary of the site, the Ballindoon Ecclesiastical Complex, SL034-211—, is located some 250m to the north and Ballindoon Castle, SL034-220—-, is situated on the lake shore some 300m to the south.
In anticipation of a request from the planners, the developer commissioned an archaeological impact assessment to accompany the planning application. The presence of the abbey and castle to the south indicate that the area is archaeologically rich. In addition, the fact that the subject site is relatively flat with a lough-side location, makes it a potentially attractive site for both historic and archaeological activity. The ground disturbance involved in the construction of a house, access, services and associated landscaping would impact on any subsoil features of cultural heritage interest should they survive in the area.
It was proposed to test the subject site via a series of five machine-dug archaeological test trenches of varying lengths, but spaced regularly across the footprint of the development area. Testing tool place on 31 March 2026. Testing revealed topsoil to consist of a dark yellow-brown, relatively stone-free clay loam, with subsoil a light brown gritty clay loam at the east, upslope end of the site, to an orange-brown gritty clay loam at the western, downslope end. Fragments of rotted limestone were noted, which created dark flecking across the natural subsoil surface, however nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered in any of the trenches.