1998:246 - GALWAY: 13 Eyre Square, Galway

Testing of a proposed development at No. 13 Eyre Square and Nos 3 and 5 Forster Street, Galway, was undertaken on 25 November and 1 December 1998. The testing and monitoring programme was undertaken in compliance with a recommendation made by Dúchas The Heritage Service following an archaeological building survey conducted by Richard Crumlish.

Richard de Burgh founded Galway City in the late 13th century. In 1333 the city became independent, and a royal charter in 1361 granted permission to erect defensive walls. By the early 17th century it was completely enclosed by walls, with fourteen gates and two forts. The Pictorial Map of Galway (1651) shows suburbs that grew up outside the walls to the north-east (Eyre Square), north-west (Mary Street) and in the Claddagh (Dominick Street). Their foundation date is unknown; however, they may have begun to develop before 1500. The site at No. 13 Eyre Square is represented on the Pictorial Map as a two-storey building.

It is proposed to demolish No. 13 Eyre Square and Nos 3 and 5 Forster Street, with the exception of the wall along the south-east of the hallway on the ground floor of No. 13 Eyre Square. The proposed development will also entail the excavation of a new basement level and the construction of a new four-storey building.

Testing of the site involved the mechanical excavation of a trench measuring 20m x 1m, orientated north-east/south-west and running across the middle of the site. Before testing, the site was strewn with rubble and building debris.

The surface deposit, a mixed, grey, multi-composite and rubble layer, had an average thickness of 0.2m. This overlay a mid-brown, sandy clay layer, with occasional inclusions of disarticulated animal bone and modern pottery sherds. It was 0.12–0.2m deep. Below this was a natural, orange/brown, sandy clay layer. This softly compact subsoil was 0.3–0.4m thick and contained no finds. Directly under this was a grey boulder clay with occasional limestone.

This stratigraphic sequence was interrupted by three wall foundations along the trench's section face. The three foundations corresponded to wall foundations associated with the recently demolished building and were of relatively modern construction. All were built of randomly coursed limestone rubble with occasional red brick.

Piling around the perimeter and under the supporting walls of the site began on 5 January 1999. The piling was monitored at its initial stages, but, owing to the nature of the piling, nothing was visible. Therefore it was decided to cease the watching brief.

Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway