2003:2208 - GALWAY: Eyre Square, Galway

An excavation was carried out at Eyre Square, Galway, in response to construction works for the Broadband Network for Galway City and Oranmore. The proposed development entails c. 47km of ducting and chambers, with trench depths of c. 0.9m and widths of up to 1m, in order to facilitate the construction of a broadband network.

During excavation works at the north end of Eyre Square, two north–south-aligned, disturbed, articulated inhumations were excavated on 22 and 23 April 2003. Skeleton 1 (SK1) had been placed over Skeleton 2 (SK2). The right arm of SK1 was extended over SK2. The placement of the skeletons would appear to suggest that they were buried with little regard or care. There was no evidence of a grave-cut.

On the northern side of the square the upper levels of stratigraphy are generally disturbed, but, at a depth of c. 0.8–1.1m, a dark organic layer with frequent animal bone and shell probably represents a medieval or early post-medieval build-up of material. This becomes more prominent towards the northeastern corner of the square, where it may be associated with a pond shown on John Speed’s 1651 map of Galway. At the location of the inhumations, this layer appears at a depth of 0.5m under a layer of tarmac, hardcore road base and mid-brown silt.

Both skeletons have been disturbed on a previous occasion. The upper arm of SK1 was missing and only the mandible of the skull survives. The cranium of a skull was recovered 3–4m away from the inhumation. It was not possible to say for definite if it was part of either SK1 or SK2; however, it may reflect the earlier period of disturbance. Despite the generally good bone preservation, neither burial was complete. No evidence of coffin material was recovered. Only one phase of burial was apparent.

Preliminary analysis indicates that both skeletons are male. The orientation of the burials was roughly north–south. The skeletons’ rough placement, coupled with their location in Eyre Square, would suggest that they might be associated with the gallows shown on the 1651 Pictorial Map of Galway. The map shows the layout of Eyre Square much as it is today. The gallows are clearly depicted at the approximate location of the burials. The market cross is depicted further west. Human remains have been recovered in this area in the past. Previous fieldwork in the area, combined with the cartographic evidence, points to the existence of a burial ground in this area of Eyre Square.

Given their location in the vicinity of the gallows, their informal burial and their north–south alignment, it may be that the individuals were criminals who were executed at the gallows and roughly buried nearby. There is little evidence to date the graves more accurately. If the above hypothesis concerning the gallows is correct, it is reasonable to assume that the burials date from sometime in the 17th century, or possibly earlier.

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