2006:747 - Ballygarraun South, Galway

Pre-planning testing was carried out across the footprint of two sites, GA084–015 and GA084–016, at Ballygarraun South, Athenry, described in the RMP files as subrectangular enclosures. However, no standing remains of either site survives. The sites were originally identified by the antiquarian H.T. Knox, who published his findings in the Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol 10, Part III (1917–1918). He describes GA084–015 as ‘Traces of a rectangular enclosure, 255ft. east to west, 225ft north–south’. Prior to test-trenching, a geophysical survey was carried out at these sites to ascertain if any subsurface archaeological features survived (Leigh 2006). No evidence for any features that would suggest the presence of an enclosure was identified at either site during this survey.
Although four test-trenches were excavated across the two RMP sites and a further three trenches were opened in close proximity to them, no features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified at either location. Thus both the testing and geophysical survey results suggest that no subsurface archaeological remains survive at either of the levelled enclosure sites. The original function of the two enclosures remains uncertain. However, the dimensions and form of the monuments described by Knox are not unlike the field systems seen on the 1838 OS map. Although these fields were later removed to make way for the enlarged field system seen on the 1892 OS map, it is possible that some vestige of them survived in the form of low earthworks.