2011:270 - CROSS STREET, LOUGHREA, Galway

Pre-development testing was carried out on 13–15 July 2011 at a site at St Raphael’s College, Cross Street, Loughrea. The proposed development consisted of alterations to the school building, construction of a major extension including sports hall, a new entrance, construction of a walled boundary between the school and the adjacent convent, and associated site works. An initial impact assessment and a geophysical survey were submitted as part of a Request for Further Information in December 2010. Although no features of archaeological significance were identified within the site, the assessment recommended testing at the northern end of the proposed access road/entrance, which was within the constraint zone for ecclesiastical remains (GA105-049). A holy well (GA105-049005) was located c. 17m east of the proposed entrance. The assessment also recommended the investigation of features of potential archaeological significance identified in the geophysical survey.
The majority of the site area consisted of St Raphael’s College and grounds. The school building was constructed between 1953 and 1956. Adjacent to the western side of the site was the Convent of Mercy, built in 1877. The 1st edition of the OS 6in. sheet (1838) showed a ‘Parade Ground’ at the location of the school building and a playing pitch to the north of the building. The proposed access road was to be located across two fields of pasture to the north of the school grounds.
Testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of eight trenches. Two trenches (9.4m and 20.1m long, 0.95–1.3m wide and 0.65–1.3m deep) were excavated at the northern end of the proposed access road, in proximity to St Bridgid’s Well and a possible ecclesiastical enclosure. Three trenches (20.2m, 30.35m and 29.65m long respectively, 0.9–1.2m wide and 0.5–1.9m deep) were excavated within the playing pitch to the north of the school building to investigate a linear feature and a number of small-scale positive anomalies that came to light during the geophysical survey. Three more trenches (19.6m, 19.6m and 39.9m long respectively, 0.9–1.3m wide and 0.1–0.9m deep) were excavated across two playing pitches to the east of the school building to investigate a number of anomalies there.
Below the topsoil in the two trenches at the northern end of the site were natural clays, with a number of modern pottery sherds found in the topsoil.
The three test trenches excavated on the playing pitch to the north of the school building revealed evidence of backfilling associated with the construction of the school in the 1950s. The fill and original topsoil contained modern artefacts and one post-medieval pottery sherd. Below the original topsoil was clay loam above natural clays. Three possible land drains, inserted during the filling up of the area for its use as a parade ground in the 19th century, were found within the clay loam in two of the trenches.
Three modern walls/kerbs, which were part of a walled garden associated with the convent (19th/20th century), were uncovered in one of the trenches to the east of the school building. A very thin layer of blackened clay with charcoal flecks which contained a burnt bone fragment was uncovered in a second trench. As a precautionary measure it was recommended that the stripping of topsoil in the immediate area of the possible feature should be monitored.

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