StoryMaps

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The People of Medieval Killeagh

This Story Map is about the people of medieval Killeagh as uncovered by the exciting archaeological discoveries made in advance of construction works associated with the N25 Killeagh Pavement Strengthening scheme in east County Cork. Archaeologists from Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd uncovered evidence of a suspected fifth or sixth-century ecclesiastical site, with connections to a mysterious saint who, some feel, might be more exotic than previously thought!  Overlying the enclosure were more than 200 burials discovered in poorly preserved condition outside the modern boundary of Killeagh's parish church graveyard. A combination of osteoarchaeological, isotopic and ancient DNA analyses has revealed telling insights into this medieval population. The Story Map was created by TII, in collaboration with Cork County Council and Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd, to coincide with Heritage Week 2023.

Medieval Claregalway: the forgotten island

Against the backdrop of medieval friary ruins and the battlements of a restored tower house, archaeological test investigations by TVAS (Ireland) Ltd have revealed some tantalising hints about the lives of the first inhabitants of Claregalway, in a planned village settlement founded on the Clare River by the Anglo-Norman baron John de Cogan, in the early 13th century. The test excavations took place in 2020 and 2021 at the location of a proposed attenuation pond (to treat run-off from the road using natural filtration), forming part of the N83 Claregalway Village Improvements Scheme. The work was done on behalf of Galway County Council and was funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This new StoryMap desribes the test excavation results at Claregalway, but the story continues with the full excavation of the site in 2023.

The Forgotten Cemetery

In the summer of 2015, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a previously unrecorded ringfort in the townland of Ranelagh, just north of Roscommon town. Over the year that followed, excavations revealed a site which began in the fourth century as a simple defended farmstead, but which expanded considerably and changed emphasis over the centuries in line with the requirements of its inhabitants. Through this period, and beyond, the enclosure also functioned as a burial ground for these people and their extended family. 

Rarely does a single site provide as comprehensive a picture of early medieval and medieval societal makeup. Details regarding subsistence and farming practices, personal health, pregnancy and childcare, the treatment of the old and infirm, community and immigration, artefact manufacture and light industry, and of personal loss and burial practice were all revealed. This latest StoryMap, and its companion monograph of the same name in the TII Heritage Series, tells not just the story of the Ranelagh site, but that of its inhabitants as a group, and as individuals.

Switching Lenses: focusing on archaeologists in a time of change

Switching Lenses: focusing on archaeologists in a time of change is a StoryMap introducing an in-person and virtual photo exhibition by John Channing of Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd (AMS). The exhibition, entitled ‘Unmasked: portrait of Gortnacrannagh’, is a series of portraits of the archaeologists who excavated Gortnacrannagh, Co. Roscommon—a site discovered in advance of the construction of the N5 Ballaghadereen to Scramoge road project. The intention is not to document an excavation, but to capture the people involved in one during a key historical moment. Despite being hidden beneath Covid masks the portraits reveal the humour, personality and feelings of the ‘storytellers’.

The exhibition is currently physically on display at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, where it was launched and digitally screened as part of the programme for the Gortnacrannagh Idol Conference organised by the Centre, AMS, Roscommon County Council and TII. It is also viewable in a Virtual 3D Gallery. See the Through Bog and Meadow StoryMap below for more details about the excavations on the N5 Ballaghadereen to Scramoge scheme.

M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project

The M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Project comprises 12.5 kilometers of new road that will be built between Cork City and the tip of the Ringaskiddy peninsula. The project is being progressed by Cork County Council (CCC) on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). As with all new road schemes the archaeological impact is carefully considered and archaeological fieldwork in advance of construction is currently being carried out by Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd in partnership with TVAS Ireland Ltd.

This Story Map describes the archaeological investigations that have were carried out as part of the scheme design and environmental impact assessment. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the current archaeological works (that commenced in January 2022).

Forging Links on Old Turnpike Road

The Forging Links on Old Turnpike Road Story Map introduces the discoveries on the N72 Stagmount Bends. In the summer of 2020 archaeologists from Archaeological Management Solutions were appointed by Kerry County Council to carry out pre-construction archaeological assessment of the land acquired for on the N72 between Rathmore and Killarney. Excavations uncovered the remains of six previously undocumented archaeological sites. The most significant was a roadside forge, where 18th/19th century travellers could have their horses re-shod or their carts and carriages repaired. The archaeological excavations were carried out in accordance with licences issued by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and were overseen by archaeologists from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Wessex Gold, Irish Lives

In this recent Story Map, Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd revisit the 2006 excavation of a cremation burial from Mucklagh, Co. Offaly, which entailed two people, their possessions, and a Bronze Age story of travel or trade. At Mucklagh 2, excavated as part of the N52 Tullamore Bypass, archaeologists identified a unique Bronze Age link between County Offaly, in the centre of Ireland, and Wessex, in the south of England, via a gold object and an antler awl found within the cremation burial of an adult and a child. The StoryMap repurposes research undertaken by Rubicon's osteoarchaeologists and paleoenvironmental team which was originally published in Offaly Heritage: Journal of the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society by Carmelita Troy and Susan Lalonde (2011 'Bronze Age Bling—Wessex gold in an Offaly burial') and presented as a poster (Wessex Gold, Irish Lives) by Carmelita, Susan and Karen Stewart.

Good Land Makes Good Stories: archaeological discoveries from the N80 Maidenhead Road Realignment Scheme, Co. Laois

The Good Land Makes Good Stories Story Map features the results of two archaeological excavations and a palaeoenvironmental (pollen) investigation that were carried out in the townlands of Maidenhead and Ballynagall in County Laois in advance of the N80 Maidenhead Realignment Scheme. These investigations were conducted by Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd and Dr Karen Molloy of the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit, NUIG, in an area characterised by well-drained fertile plains, interspersed with drumlins. The excavations consisted of a late medieval site at Ballynagall 1 and a multi-period complex at Maidenhead 1; giving evidence of human activity spanning 3,000 years. The pollen study, conducted in a small pond known as ‘Black Oran’, between Ballynagall and Maidenhead, revealed a vegetation history of the local area over an 800-year timespan.

Past Lifeways in the Irish Midlands: the archaeology of the N52 Cloghan to Billistown Road Improvement Scheme in County Westmeath

Past Lifeways in the Irish Midlands is a collaborative Story Map produced by ACSU Ltd, with contributions from IAC Ltd, Colm Flynn Archaeology, and the University College Dublin Centre for Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture. It presents the results of archaeological works undertaken on Phases 1 and 2 of the N52 Cloghan to Billistown Road Improvement Scheme in County Westmeath. By combining results from the excavations and post-excavation analysis undertaken by three archaeological companies it presents all of these findings together for the first time.

You can read more about the archaeological discoveries made on Phase 2 of the N52 scheme in the Seanda Ezine.

Through Bog and Meadow: the archaeology of the N5 Road, County Roscommon

The Through Bog and Meadow Story Map explores the 101 archaeological sites discovered during the archaeological advance works on the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge road project. This new section of road will run for just under 35 km through north Roscommon traversing small drumlins, deep bogs, and rich pasture. The new route of the N5 was chosen to avoid the sensitive archaeological landscape of Rathcroghan, home of the legendary Queen Maeve. However, regardless of where you place a slice through a landscape like north Roscommon you are guaranteed to encounter archaeological remains. Excavation of all 101 sites, spanning 8,000 years of settlement from the Mesolithic to the twentieth century, is now complete and the post-excavation and write-up phase has begun.

Ambush at Cúil na Cathrach (Coolnacaheragh), West Cork, Ireland

This Story Map, published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in partnership with Cork County Council, commemorates the centenary of the War of Independence ambush which took place on 25 February 1921 at Cúil na Cathrach, in west County Cork. The ambush, involving an attack by Volunteers of the IRA Flying Column against members of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, took place at a winding section of the old N22 road in the townland of Cúil na Cathrach, approximately 11 km west of Macroom town. The Story Map sets out the historical context of the ambush and provides a narrative on how the ambush site was selected, the ambush strategy, and how the ambush unfolded—including suspected betrayal by a saboteur. Detail is also provided of the two opposing commanders who found themselves in armed conflict by the fate of history. The Story Map includes historical photographs, interactive mapping and links to further reading and resources, as well as a noteworthy vignette of Irish film history.

This is the second Story Map published with respect to the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom scheme (see below).

Forging a Future: tales of archaeological discovery along the N73 road corridor in north County Cork, Ireland

The realignment of the N73 between Mitchelstown and Mallow in north County Cork afforded archaeologists the opportunity to investigate in the heart of the Golden Vale, whose fertile soils have been cultivated for millennia. Excavations uncovered the foundations of a building erected by one of the Golden Vale’s first farming families almost 6,000 years ago in the Early Neolithic. Monuments marking the burial places of deceased members of the Bronze Age community, 3,000–4,000 years ago, were found at Clenor South. The N73 owes it origins to 17th- and 18th-century road developments. At that time, an enterprising blacksmith set-up a roadside forge in Clenor South to serve local farmers and passing travellers needing their horses shod or their coaches or carts repaired. These and other discoveries along the N73 feature in the Forging a Future Story Map prepared by TII and Cork County Council in partnership with TVAS (Ireland) Ltd.

From Milltown’s First Farmers to Landed Gentry: the archaeology of the N70 Kilderry Bends Road Improvement Scheme in County Kerry

Between September 2017 and May 2018, along a mere 2 km length of the N70 road realignment on the outskirts of Milltown, Co. Kerry, archaeologists uncovered evidence of human activity spanning 5,600 years. This included a Neolithic flint arrowhead and stone bead, a Bronze Age fulacht fia, and the remains of a 19th-century cottage. Most significant perhaps was the part excavation of a trivallate ringfort, known as Lissaniska, which is one of the few sites in ireland to have yielded direct evidence of early medieval flax processing. These discoveries are presented in this multimedia Story Map produced by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd on behalf of Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Click here to access the From Milltown's First Farmers to Landed Gentry Story Map.

Living Between the Lakes: the archaeology of the N55 Road (Corduff to South of Killydoon Section A, County Cavan)

Living Between the Lakes, created by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd in July 2020, is the latest Story Map showcasing the results of archaeological investigations on a national road scheme. Produced on behalf of Cavan County Council and TII, the Story Map relates the identification and excavation of five sites between September 2016 and February 2017 in advance of the construction of the N55 Corduff to South of Killydoon (Section A) road scheme. The Living Between the Lakes Story Map can be accessed here.

Digging Around Listowel: the archaeology of the N69 Bypass

In the summer of 2019 archaeologists from Archaeological Management Solutions investigated the route of the N69 Listowel Bypass on behalf of Kerry County Council and TII prior to the commencement of road construction. Archaeological Management Solutions created this multimedia Story Map in May 2020 to showcase the various results of their endeavours. Please click here to access the Digging Around Listowel Story Map.

The Archaeology of the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Road Development, in West Cork, Ireland

This Story Map outlines some of the discoveries made by archaeologists from Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd and TVAS (Ireland) Ltd along the route of the proposed N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom road development in West Cork. The investigations were undertaken on behalf of Cork County Council and TII. The N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom Story Map was compiled by TII Archaeologist Ken Hanley in August 2019 and can be accessed by clicking here.

Between the Lines: the archaeology of Luas Cross City

In August 2017, The Irish Times reported on the cultural heritage aspects of the Luas Cross City project in Dublin city, in an article entitled The lost history of Dublin uncovered by Luas works. This article was complimented by the creation of the Between the Lines: the archaeology of Luas Cross City Story Map, which offered readers a novel means to engage further with the discoveries that had been reported on.

An Archaeological Journey Along the Carlow Bypass

Fifty-seven archaeological excavations were undertaken by Rubicon Heritage Services along the route of the M9 Carlow Bypass on behalf of TII (formerly the National Roads Authority) and Kildare County Council. Rubicon Heritage Services created this Story Map in 2015 examining some of the discoveries, looking at them townland by townland, travelling from south to north, and exploring some of the specialist techniques used during post-excavation analysis. Click here to access the Carlow Bypass Story Map.

The creation of this webpage was an initiative of the TII Heritage Week Project 2020.

Last updated 07/07/2023.