County: Galway Site name: GALWAY: 3–5 William Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RMP 94:100 Licence number: 00E0685
Author: Anne Carey and Billy Quinn, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd.
Site type: Structure and Building
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 529879m, N 725355m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.273886, -9.051298
Following the partial demolition of an existing building on the site at 3–5 William Street, Galway, four trial-trenches were excavated along or adjacent to the proposed line of ground-beams and piles at the rear of the site. Excavation revealed the remains of a wall and an associated foundation and rubble core centrally placed within the site. Only one course of the wall survived, orientated north-east/south-west.
Subsequent monitoring of the mechanical removal of redeposited fill at the rear of the site revealed extensive structural remains. Clearance of spoil in the vicinity of the wall discovered during the initial testing revealed the disturbed remains of a second wall, situated immediately to the north of and parallel to the first. This second wall was in a very poor condition and was partly truncated by the rear wall of the recently demolished building. A third wall was located perpendicular to the others, running in a north-west/south-east direction and disappearing under the rear boundary wall of the site.
Excavation was also carried out at the front of the site, within the footprint of the recently demolished building. Underlying a mixed, redeposited fill, the remains of two poorly preserved walls/foundations were revealed, situated on either side of a drain, which was orientated in a north-west/south-east direction. Owing to the structural remains on the site, the foundation design was altered so as not to impinge on these features, and they were recorded, covered with terram and backfilled.
Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway
