County: Galway Site name: GALWAY: (rear) 12 Quay Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 94:100 Licence number: 96E0080
Author: Anne Connolly, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd.
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 529765m, N 725229m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.272739, -9.052979
The site at No. 12 Quay Street, Galway, faced onto Kirwan’s Lane in an area of known archaeological interest. Full excavation of the site was recommended by the National Monuments Service and the work took place on 9–23 April 1996. The site measured 8m north-west/south-east and 4.5m south-west/north-east.
The remains of two walls of medieval date were discovered underlying a concrete floor and mixed fill. One of these walls measured 0.8m in width and was orientated in a northeast/south-west direction, parallel with Kirwan’s Lane. A slight foundation, measuring 0.1–0.15m, extended from it at a depth of 0.45m below the top of the wall. Another wall was located perpendicular to and adjoining the first wall. It was narrow (0.4m thick) and poorly preserved, measuring 5m north-west/south-east; it was constructed of unhewn limestone blocks and was roughly mortared. Its narrowness suggests that it was an internal dividing wall, though owing to the size of the site itself it was not possible to trace the rest of the structure. Archaeological deposits were also recorded down to bedrock adjacent to the aforementioned walls. Some sherds of pottery of medieval date were recovered from the excavation.
Oranmore Industrial Park, Claregalway Rd. Oranmore, Co. Galway
