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<\/a>Ciar\u00e1n and Cian metal detecting at Kinsale (Photo – U. Garner)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Foerster cart at Ballincollig (Photo – C. Hogan)<\/p><\/div>\n
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Every so often a change of scenery was in mind and we headed somewhere other than Cork for fieldwork. Following on from the stretch in Cork, a couple more surveys for the TII popped up during the year, though they were much smaller in size. A couple of days in Westmeath and a week in Laois to undertake preliminary work for road-straightening jobs to come. Some private developments took us to Meath, Laois and Dublin.<\/p>\n
Ciar\u00e1n with Foerster cart at Castle Ward, Co. Antrim (Photo – C. Hogan)<\/p><\/div>\n
The month of May was more or less spent north of the border. Two of the surveys were for solar farm developments. At the start of the month we were north of Belfast for a job of 15 Ha. At the end of the month we were south of Belfast, undertaking one of the largest private developments we\u2019ve worked on \u2013 26 Ha of geophysical survey. Between these two jobs, we spent a couple of days at the wonderful Castle Ward, Co. Down \u2013 the setting for Winterfell Castle from Game of Thrones. We were investigating the landscaped gardens in order to locate Queen Anne\u2019s house and other garden features.<\/p>\n
Darren instructing Ursula and Ciar\u00e1n on the MSP40 (Photo – C. Hogan)<\/p><\/div>\n
2017 saw quite a shift in terms of staff at the company. Hannah Brown (now Dr. \u2013 congratulations!) temporarily joined the survey team. In April, Ursula Garner and Ciar\u00e1n Davis, recent graduates of IT Sligo, joined the company \u2013 bringing it up to largest it had ever been, at six employees. During the first couple of months we had some great training days in local fields and the green at Castlebar barracks. And after seven years of surveys, Darren Regan decided it was time for a change and headed off for sunnier climes in October.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Panorama of entrance to Doon Fort (Photo – C. Davis)<\/p><\/div>\n
Research projects were the name of the game for this year. We were back for a second round at Knocknashee Hillfort with Queen\u2019s University. Following last year\u2019s MS survey of the entire hilltop, this time half of the summit plateau was surveyed using Earthsound\u2019s first in-house frame \u2013 the Earthwalker. Vinegar Hill was in our sights twice in 2017. An ERT survey was carried out early on in the year, which was was followed up a few months later by involvement in a metal detection survey. We were working closely with the National 1798 Rebellion Centre and Rubicon Heritage on this very interesting project. This year also saw the first surveys for the Heritage Council\u2019s \u2018Adopt a Monument\u2019 Scheme (run in association with Abarta Heritage) take place. Earthsound had the delight to undertake a detailed survey of the interior of Doon Fort \u2013 probably the best survey spot in the world! We spent a week in the westlands of Donegal, paddling in and out with equipment to carry out the survey. Following this, we headed in the opposite direction to Kilfinnane, Co. Limerick. Here, we carried out the first surveys investigating the lands surrounding one of Ireland’s most impressive mottes. After several years of looking for walls in Athy, we had the opportunity to put the experience gained there to practice in Castledermot and Kilkenny. The surveys at both locations proved fruitful, with walls and ditches being identified.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Panorama of interior of Doon Fort (Photo – C. Davis)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>ERT survey at Vinegar Hill (Photo – J. Bonsall)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Ursula with the EM cart in front of Kilfinane Motte (Photo – C. Hogan)<\/p><\/div>\n
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