County: Galway Site name: LOUGHREA: Mob Hill
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA105–150 Licence number: 06E0659
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 562175m, N 716646m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.198914, -8.566093
Pre-development testing was carried out on 12 July 2006 at a site at Mob Hill, Loughrea, Co. Galway. The proposed development, which consisted of the demolition of existing buildings on the site and the construction of a mixed commercial/residential development, was located within the archaeological constraint for Loughrea town. The site consisted of a two-storey building, part of a terrace fronting onto Mob Hill (probably of 19th-century date), to the rear of which was a small open yard and a number of outhouses. The area to the rear of the main building was very overgrown. Only the open yard was accessible.
Due to the inaccessibility of the site, it was agreed with the DOEHLG that the testing would concentrate on the open yard area. Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of one trench through the open area, which measured 5.8m long, 1.2–1.4m wide and 0.1–0.5m deep. Below the topsoil and fill on the surface was orange/brown friable silt loam and bedrock. A plastic service duct (0.1m in diameter) crossed the trench. The testing revealed evidence of modern activity associated with the building and outhouses located on the proposed development site, above sterile natural subsoil and bedrock. Only modern artefacts were recovered, from the topsoil and the fill. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed. Further testing is due to take place if and when planning permission is granted and the remainder of the site becomes accessible.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
