Archaeological findings unearthed as part of the Baile Bhuirne to Macroom road development to go on display

The story of a historic mill complex recently excavated as part of the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom road development will be presented at a free lecture in Macroom tomorrow.

To celebrate National Heritage Week, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in association with Cork County Council, is inviting the public to attend the lecture titled ‘Mills and Milling’, presented by Dr Colin Rynne of UCC and archaeologist Kate Taylor of TVAS Ireland.

The presentation, taking place in the Castle Hotel in Macroom at 8pm on Wednesday. It will outline the story of the mill complex recently excavated at Kilaclug, West of Macroom.

About 50 sites of archaeological significance were unearthed during investigations. Archaeologists working on an early 19th-century farmstead were surprised to find, under the floor of a farm building, much older walls, which were part of a water-powered mill complex.

The earliest phase of this mill goes back to the late 15th century. Rebuilt in the late 16th century, the mill was extended in the 18th century and by the early 19th century it had been abandoned and levelled.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Christopher O Sullivan encouraged the local community and anyone with an interest in our county’s heritage and history to come along. 

“These excavations provide significant new information and this free event is a wonderful opportunity to find out how this long-forgotten mill complex was uncovered and how it expands our understanding of the early industrial heritage of west Cork.” 

A TII-produced, on-line, ‘Story Map’ of all the archaeological sites excavated in advance of the proposed new N22 road scheme will be launched on the night.

Post-excavation research and analysis is currently on-going and all sites will be published in due course.