2010:318 - Church Street, Athenry, Galway

Plans for a parish centre in the vicinity of the medieval town defences have been ongoing for a number of years. Testing was initially undertaken in 2006 when a small area was tested revealing a number of pit features (Excavations 2006, No. 742, 06E0177). In 2009 three trenches were excavated in the area of a proposed centre (Excavations 2009, No. 382, 06E0177 ext.). The testing uncovered the remains of six human burials and the moat of the town defences. Following submission of the archaeological report and correspondence from the National Monuments Division, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government it was decided to move the proposed development further away from the town defences. Plans for a new development were provisionally drawn up and this report deals with the testing associated with these plans. All of this work was undertaken in advance of a planning submission.
Testing was undertaken over a period of four days in 2010. Three trenches were excavated through the site of the proposed development. Two of the trenches were mechanically excavated adjacent to the church, while the third was manually excavated through an existing outhouse facing on to Church Street.
The first area tested is located to the immediate west of that tested in 2009. This location was examined to ascertain if burials extended into this area. The excavation of two trenches (Trenches 1 and 2) revealed no evidence for burials. Two pit features uncovered indicate human activity; however, the dating of this activity is not known and is most likely to be post-medieval. Testing found that the proposed development of the parish centre meeting rooms in this area will not encroach on burials or any structural features.
The second area tested is located within an existing outbuilding in the south-west of the church property. It is proposed that new parish meeting rooms be constructed at this site. The survey undertaken prior to testing revealed that the existing building was originally a stone-constructed outhouse/stable which was more recently altered to accommodate two adjoining sheds. The survey found that the north wall of this building corresponds with the town wall as indicated on the OS maps. The wall is roughly coursed with large and small uncut limestone and has mortar throughout. The almost random coursing has small packing stones in some areas. While it is uncertain if the existing wall is the original town wall, it does compare with the town wall in other areas of Athenry.
Testing involved the excavation of a single trench (divided into two trenches) through the outhouse. The testing found evidence for an earlier building and evidence for pit features and an area of burning.