It can now be taken for granted that the number of sites excavated will be up on the previous year, and this year is again no exception — even allowing for the ban on fieldwork that had to be imposed during the late spring and early summer when there was a threat of the spread of foot and mouth disease.

Sites were again investigated in every one of the 32 counties. Of the summaries received, the majority were from Dublin (155 sites), followed by Meath (140) and Cork (139), with Kildare coming in fourth with 80 sites. The least number came from Fermanagh (just one summary), followed by Carlow and Tyrone (4 each) and Laois (6). No doubt this is indicative of the areas where most road and other development is or is not taking place.

Again fulachta fiadh are turning up more than any other site type, but corn-drying kilns are another monument type being recognised more frequently.