2009:623 - SHRULE, Mayo

Pre-development testing was carried out on 9 October 2009 at a site in the village of Shrule, Co. Mayo. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a dwelling-house and connections to public services with ancillary site works. Testing was required as the proposed development was located within the constraint for earthworks (MA122A016) and partly within the constraint for an abbey (MA122A005). The earthworks were visible in the field to the west of the proposed development site and appeared to be part of a field system. The abbey was visible as a roughly rectangular mound (11m east–west by 13.4m), with masonry rubble visible in places, located c. 50m to the south-west of the proposed development. Associated with the abbey was a 'holy’ stone named 'Cloghvanaha’ on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map, of which there is no visible trace. There were no archaeological features visible within the proposed development site.

The proposed development site consisted of a small field of relatively flat pasture enclosed by drystone walls. Immediately north of the site was a recent housing development, St Ledger’s Court, which was the subject of testing in 1999 by Gerry Walsh (Excavations 1999, No. 669, 99E0735), but nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered.

The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of three trenches located to best cover the development area. The trenches measured 14.5m, 35m and 20m long respectively, 0.9–1.3m wide and 0.3–1.15m deep.

Below the modern fill and topsoil on the surface were natural subsoils and bedrock. The fill and topsoil contained modern artefacts. Three recent animal burials (one pig and two calves), about which we were informed by the landowner prior to the on-site work, were found within one of the trenches. Testing revealed nothing of archaeological significance.