County: Galway Site name: GALWAY: 5–6 Bridge Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RMP 94:100 Licence number: 01E1204
Author: Richard Crumlish, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 529587m, N 725127m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.271799, -9.055639
Pre-development testing on the site of a proposed pub and restaurant development was carried out between 14 and 18 December 2001 at Nos 5 and 6 Bridge Street, Galway (‘The Lisheen Pub’). The proposed development is located within the zone of archaeological potential for Galway City.
The proposed development site consisted of a building of 18th/19th-century date with a 20th-century flat-roofed extension to the rear. The site was located near the River Corrib within the original medieval city wall.
Three trial-trenches were excavated, which were 7m, 14.8m and 5.8m long respectively, 0.8–1.8m wide and 0.5–2.6m deep.
The stratigraphy consisted of a concrete floor slab on the surface, below which was rubble fill. Within the rubble fill was a red brick floor and a layer of cobbles located alongside each other. Below the rubble fill was a dark brown/black organic layer. Below this was a blue/grey clay (natural subsoil). Two mortared rubble wall foundations were found within the rubble fill and organic layer.
Modern artefacts and one architectural fragment were found in the rubble fill. The red brick floor, adjacent cobbles and the two wall foundations were contemporary with the extant building. The organic layer was probably a fill which originated from the construction of the docks in the 19th century.
The testing revealed evidence of activity associated with the extant building on the site.
Purcell House, Claregalway Road, Oranmore, Co. Galway
