County: Galway Site name: ANNAGHCORRIB/CALTRAGH/CLONFERT (BUTSON)/CLONFERT DEMESNE/CLONFERT NORTH (SEYMORE)/COOLCARTA EAST/COOLCARTA WEST/GARRYDUFF/KYLEMORE/SRAHAUN, GARRYDUFF
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 09E0406
Author: Nicola Rohan, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit D, Kells Business Park, Cavan Road, Kells, Co. Meath.
Site type: Peatland survey
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 529516m, N 724990m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.270559, -9.056668
The Re-assessment Survey 2009 included Blackwater, Ballaghurt, Bloomhill, Clooniff, Garryduff and Kilmacshane bogs, which are part of the Bord na M)na (BnM) Blackwater group of bogs. The Blackwater group of bogs was initially surveyed by the IAWU in 1992 and 1993. The objective of the Reassessment Survey was to re-identify any surviving previously recorded sites, identify new sites and subsequently record all archaeological sites identified during the course of survey. Garryduff Bog is located on the western side of the Shannon 1km south-west of Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly, and 3km north-east of Laurencetown, Co. Galway. Within the Blackwater group it is located north-west of Kilmacshane Bog and 1.5km south-west of Blackwater Bog. It has a total area of 2742ha, at least 50% of which is now cutaway.
A total of nine archaeological sites, identified during the first-round survey of Garryduff Bog in 1992, were lodged in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. These sites were widely dispersed and were located in the western end of the bog. A Late Bronze Age plank trackway (GA100–172), excavated by Raftery in 1988 and by the IAWU in 1992, was also located at the western side of the bog.
At the time of survey only the north-east side and parts of the south-east side of the bog remained in production. In these areas the marl was visible on many of the field surfaces and in the drain faces. Elsewhere, the bog was out of production for some time, grass covered many of the field surfaces and a notable number of drains were silted up. The Late Bronze Age trackway excavated by Raftery and the IAWU and the previously recorded sites were located in the south-west section of the bog. At the time of the Re-assessment Survey this area was largely overgrown and covered with areas of open water and, as a result, many of the field surfaces and drain faces are no longer visible. A hand-held GPS was used to locate findspots for the previously recorded sites; however, nothing remained of these sites and no new archaeological sites were identified within the bog.
