2005:1116 - CONG: Main Street, Mayo

Pre-development testing was carried out on 9 July 2005 at a site in advance of its development at Main Street, Cong, Co. Mayo. The proposed development, located within the constraint area for Cong, consisted of the change of use of the premises known as ‘Pat Cohan’s Bar’ from commercial/residential to a pub/restaurant and the construction of an extension at ground-floor level to include a new kitchen/store and toilet facilities.

Prior to my involvement in the project, as part of the demolition (carried out in autumn 2004) the ground level was reduced within the proposed bar/lounge area by 0.25–0.5m. These works had revealed rubble fill and bedrock in places. The groundworks involved in the construction of the extension for kitchen/store and toilet facilities had also been completed, with this area to the north-west of the bar and lounge already concreted.

The site was located at the corner of Main Street and Abbey Street in Cong village, with Cong Abbey located a short distance south-west of the site and the market cross located at the bottom of the Main Street, a short distance east of the site. The site was formerly a grocer’s shop and featured as Pat Cohan’s Pub in the John Ford film The Quiet Man. The northern half of the building, which had been partially demolished, was older, with the southern half having been added in the 1930s (according to the former owner).

One trench was excavated through the centre of the site. It measured 10m long, 1–1.2m wide and up to 0.8m deep. Testing uncovered evidence of modern activity on the site associated with the existing building (partially demolished in autumn 2004) – i.e. rubble fill (which contained modern artefacts) over bedrock, natural boulders and sterile natural subsoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo