County: Galway Site name: PALLAS
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E01020
Author: Martin Fitzpatrick, Arch. Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Castle - tower house
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 572015m, N 739566m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.405499, -8.420848
Pre-development testing at the tower-house was undertaken at the request of Dúchas, following the purchase of lands to the east of the structure. A second roadway, to the south of the existing entrance road, is to be constructed to facilitate the owner of the adjoining lands in gaining access. The proposed roadway will run parallel to the existing boundary wall for a distance of approximately 70m.
Four trenches were mechanically excavated in the area of the proposed roadway. The stratigraphy revealed indicated that the area immediately east of the bawn wall was once the location of one or more stone buildings, the rubble of which survives below the surface. A wall feature uncovered in Trench 1 seems to indicate that a substantial structure stood in the area. The first edition OS maps show extensive structures and walls in this area, which were possibly associated with Pallas House and gardens. By the time of the third edition OS maps fewer structures are indicated, suggesting that many of the outbuildings had been demolished. The excavation of Trenches 2–4 revealed that the rubble debris from the outbuildings and associated walls survives in the area of the proposed roadway. For the purpose of road construction, the existing ground level will only be reduced by a depth of c. 0.2–0.3m, and will not infringe on any archaeological deposits.
Ballydavid South, Athenry, Co. Galway
