County: Galway Site name: Annaghdown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA069-001 Licence number: 12E234
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 528420m, N 738003m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.387341, -9.076034
Pre-development testing was carried out on 31 July 2012 at a single house development in Annaghdown townland in County Galway. The testing was required due to the location of the proposed development within the constraint for an archaeological complex (GA069-001), principally ecclesiastical remains (GA069-00101) which are a National Monument (No. 49), including a possible enclosure (GA069-001002), a causeway (GA069-001003), a number of religious houses (GA069-001004, 005, 013), three graveyards (GA069-001006, 012, 014), two churches (GA069-001007, 011), a graveslab (GA069-001008), three cross-slabs (GA069-001009, 010, 015), a round tower (GA069-001016), two holy wells (GA069-001017, 019) and an ecclesiastical residence (GA069-001018). The proposed development was 180m away from the nearest visible element of the ecclesiastical remains.
The medieval monastic complex at Annaghdown is traditionally attributed to St Brendan of Clonfert and became the see of a diocese for a time from c. 1188-9. Its many buildings include a nunnery (originally Arroasian Augustinian nuns in the 12th century but later revived as a house of Premonstratensian Canons); an abbey comprising a late medieval church with incorporated chancel, a cloister and associated buildings; and the ‘cathedral’ which dates to the 15th century and contains a fine 12th-century Romanesque window which may have originally come from the abbey.
The proposed development site was located adjacent to Annaghdown Quay on the eastern shore of Lough Corrib and contained an existing timber framed dwelling dating to the mid 20th century. Three trenches were excavated by machine to best cover the area of the proposed development which was accessible. The trenches measured 12.1m, 10.3m and 24.8m long respectively, 1.5-1.7m wide and 0.4-1.45m deep.
Testing revealed topsoil above natural subsoils with modern disturbance in the form of a water service which crossed one trench, fill visible in another and a soak pit in the third trench. The modern disturbance was associated with the existing mid 20th-century dwelling on the site. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
