County: Galway Site name: HEADFORD: Balrickard
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E1180
Author: Declan Moore, Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 526699m, N 746363m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.462223, -9.103838
The development comprised a new sewerage system and the upgrading of the existing system in Headford, Co. Galway. It included the laying of c. 9000m of new pipework (comprising water mains, foul sewage, surface water lines and ducting) and the construction of a new wastewater treatment works. The development is close to a number of monuments, including a castle, manorial village and an unclassified earthwork. None of the above monuments were directly impacted on by the proposed works but there was potential for disturbing associated unrecorded archaeological material. A programme of advance archaeological testing followed by full-time monitoring in certain areas of the scheme and intermittent monitoring in other areas was carried out.
All areas of 20m wayleave in greenfield were assessed by means of linear test-trenches with 10m-long offsets at regular (10m) intervals. Testing was carried out over a period of fifteen months as areas were fenced off. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in any of these areas.
The wayleave in the vicinity of Headford Castle was initially assessed by means of a geophysical survey followed by test excavation. Earthsound Ltd undertook the geophysical survey in the vicinity of the castle and detected a number of anomalies. Subsequent testing established that these anomalies consisted of rubble material, spoilheaps and a drain feature. This area appears to have been used in the past as a general landfill.
Intermittent monitoring took place along existing roads. Full-time monitoring was carried out in the vicinity of St John the Baptist Church on the Shrule road and the roadways in the vicinity of Headford Mart. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the course of monitoring in the vicinity of St John the Baptist Church.
A wall foundation was encountered in the vicinity of Headford Mart in the section of the construction trench. This structure was surveyed and recorded. Subsequently, a layer of cobbles was encountered from the location of the wall continuing towards the location of Headford Castle, within the existing roadway. This cobbled road is visible on the first-edition OS map and functioned as a side entrance to the castle. The surface was cleaned, recorded and surveyed prior to construction works.
Intermittent monitoring was carried out until early 2007. Nothing further of archaeological significance was noted.
Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway
