County: Galway Site name: Lavally
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E003869
Author: Gerry Mullins, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, The Forge, Innishannon, Co. Cork.
Site type: Estate cottage
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 546396m, N 721707m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.243037, -8.803087
Phase 2 excavations along the 27.2km of the N18 Oranmore to Gort (Glenbrack to Rathmorrissey) National Road Scheme were commissioned by Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Excavations proved the site to have consisted of two principal structures, a dwelling house and a probable byre, situated in the former Lavally Demesne. A small annexe building on the southern side of the byre was also identified. These structures were positioned at right angles to a roughly cobbled yard. Another building, a possible hut, was located immediately south of the yard entrance.
The dwelling house measured 12.53m by 7.2m. A single entrance faced south-westwards into the enclosed yard and towards the complex entrance. The principal internal features preserved in this building were the fireplace and hearth.
The byre was situated on the eastern side of the yard at right angles to the dwelling house. The dimensions were 9.1m north-west to south-east, by 5.1m. The footings of a drystone wall were preserved at 1.6m distance to the south-east and orientated parallel to the gable wall of Building 2. The length was 2.03m, the width was 0.68m and preserved height was 0.38m. The third building comprised a double course of a substantial drystone wall footing immediately south of the yard entrance. This wall extends 4.6m in a north-west to south-east direction parallel to a site enclosing wall. It also abuts a return on this enclosing wall, forming a three-sided structure. The annexe was a short single line of dry stones, abutting the enclosing wall and preserved to one course in height with a slight return, extended parallel to the wall of the third building.
Two groups of stone occurred in close proximity to the north-eastern side of the complex. Some had fallen, including the capstone. No socket was found beneath any cut into natural subsoil. Both groups represent a platform-type structure to enable the stacking of corn.
A large number of finds were recovered during the excavation. These mostly comprised modern ceramic tableware sherds, clay-pipe stems and bowls, remnants of old shoes and damaged agricultural and domestic metal pieces. Two religious medals, a harp brooch and an English George V 1916 bronze penny were also recovered.
