2006:743 - Court Lane, Athenry, Galway

In February 2006 pre-development testing was undertaken as part of an assessment of a proposed development site at Court Lane, Athenry. The site was previously used as an abattoir and had a number of disused buildings. Two trenches were mechanically excavated in the course of testing. Both trenches were orientated north–south and measured 10m in length. The removal of the concrete surface in Trench A revealed a brown clay with modern plastic and glass inclusions. Excavation of this layer for a depth of 0.3m revealed the foundations of a stone wall running roughly east–west. The stones of the upper part of the wall were disturbed, but two courses of stonework were revealed extending for a depth of 0.45m. Immediately north of the wall a rubble layer was encountered, while to the south there was a grey gravel layer. Excavation of the gravel layer for a depth of 1m revealed a layer of compacted mortar. Finds from these layers included 19th-century ceramic ware and glass fragments. No features of archaeological significance were encountered in Trench B.
Examination of cartographic sources indicated a row of houses along Court Lane in the 19th century. All cartographic sources indicate the medieval town wall running in the vicinity of the area tested. It is possible that the foundation revealed is that of a 19th-century house that may have been constructed on top of the medieval town wall. It was recommended that further archaeological examination of the area should take place to determine if the wall uncovered is part of the original town wall.