2003:2213 - GALWAY: 18 and 19 Woodquay, Galway

Pre-development testing was carried out on 11 March 2003 at Nos 18 and 19 (‘The Stage Door’) Woodquay, Galway. The proposed redevelopment of this public house was located within the zone of archaeological potential for Galway city (SMR 94:100).

The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of three trenches, which measured 14m, 14m and 5.7m long respectively, 1.1–1.7m wide and 1.05–2m deep. Below the concrete floor was rubble fill, which contained two rubble wall foundations and below which was friable silt loam, a dark-brown organic layer and plastic grey clay. The friable silt loam contained animal-bone fragments, oyster/mussel shell and red-brick fragments. The organic layer, also found below the friable silt loam, contained wood, animal-bone fragments and oyster shell. The plastic clay was also found below the silt loam and the organic layer.

The testing revealed evidence of modern activity only. The rubble fill and brown silt loam contained modern artefacts. The grey plastic clay was a sterile natural subsoil. The organic layer did not contain easily datable artefacts; however, as the site was located outside the medieval wall and just inside the zone of archaeological potential, in an area which had obviously been backfilled in the past, it was more likely to be modern. The wall foundations were related to the modern building just demolished on the site.

61 An Cladrach, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo