2011:263 - HEADFORD/ORANMORE/BALLINASLOE/BOYHILL/ FARRANABLAKE EAST, Galway

Monitoring of site investigation works for the Galway Water Conservation Project Stage 3 was carried out along existing roads and verges in the towns of Headford, Oranmore and Ballinasloe, and to the south of Athenry (in the vicinity of Boyhill/Farranablake East cemetery). Works involved the excavation of trial pits and slit-trenches, ranging from 5m to 10m in length and c. 0.5m in width, at various locations along the proposed water-mains route in order to examine ground conditions and the location of existing services. In general there had been considerable disturbance of subsurface deposits within core urban areas owing to the laying of previous services.
Some possible 19th-century deposits were observed in Ballinasloe town centre, particularly in test trenches within St Michael’s Place, where rich organic deposits and red brick fragments were observed below existing ground level. A large flat stone with some associated bone fragments was observed in one of the trenches on the northern end of Jubilee Street (approx. 30m to the north of the turn into St Michael’s Place, 585261 730973). The slit-trench was only 0.5m wide, and the large stone slab and deposits around it were left in situ. Some loose bones that fell out of the section are currently being assessed. The ground on either side of this feature had previously been disturbed for services. Monitoring was carried out throughout Ballinasloe but most of the remaining areas showed evidence of previous disturbance or natural soil horizons throughout.
The majority of trenches in Oranmore also showed evidence for previous disturbance for services or natural soil horizons. Occasional seashells were visible within some of the slit-trenches along Coast Road, but there was no evidence for dense midden deposits.
Monitoring in Headford town centre revealed considerable disturbance of subsurface deposits by previous services. Monitoring in the vicinity of Cloghanower graveyard to the south of Headford revealed natural soil horizons beneath the road surface, with no archaeological deposits observed. Monitoring along the road in the vicinity of Cloghanower Castle revealed a thick peat layer beneath the road surface; some well-preserved natural bogwood was observed in one of these trenches.
No other finds or features of archaeological significance were observed during the course of monitoring on this scheme.

Connacht Archaeological Services, 19 The Meadows, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo