2019:570 - ATHENRY, Galway

Monitoring was carried out between 1 May 2018 and 16 April 2019 of the replacement of wooden electricity poles at various locations within the vicinity of the historic Town of Athenry, Co. Galway. The work involved the excavation of holes in the footpath/street with a mechanical excavator or suction excavator to a depth of approx. 1.7m to facilitate erection of new replacement poles. Limited open trench excavation was carried out on MacDonald’s Lane to facilitate cable connections.

Most of the poles were located on footpaths or on the edge of streets. Other locations included the private garden of the Presentation Convent, the grounds of Presentation College and a green field site to the rear of Riversdale House.

Where possible the excavation work was carried out using a suction excavator truck. This process involves the excavation of a discreet area of ground using a 0.3m diameter suction nozzle with a water jet. The spoil is sucked directly into a storage tank leaving a clean profiled hole 1.2m deep. Where access was more restricted a mini-digger was used to excavate the required pits. Pre-existing ducts had already been laid from the Bank of Ireland/Market Square through MacDonald’s Lane. A number of trial holes were excavated to ascertain the locations and numbers of these ducts. Limited open trench excavation was carried out on MacDonald’s Lane to access these ducts.

The soil profiles in all instances comprised of modern infill and natural ground with frequent stones. No finds or features of archaeological potential were noted.