Author of original report and Site Director: Tom Rogers

During Construction works for the realignment of the R284 from Drumaskibbole to Ballygawley in County Sligo, Tom Rogers of Moore Group excavated a fulacht fiadh and two stone trackways (along with a number of assorted other features).

Slightly south of Drumaskibbole the road bends sharply, first to the west to avoid the steep slope of a drumlin and then to the east to skirt a small valley. The purpose of the development was to reduce the level of the western edge of the drumlin and to bank up the valley, straightening and levelling the road. At the summit of the drumlin lies Drumaskibbole Enclosure, a ringfort (RMP SL020:124). An initial archaeological assessment of the route, carried out by Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, recommended pre-development testing followed by archaeological monitoring of all ground works. This was carried out by Mrs Anne Carey. Nothing of archaeological significance was found during testing but in the course of monitoring a fulacht fiadh comprising both a burnt spread and wooden trough was uncovered. Slightly to the north of this a line of unbonded stones was uncovered beneath approximately 0.4m of peat.

The excavation was commissioned and funded by Sligo County Council.

Looking North across the site

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