2012:264 - CLOONANEARLA TO BALLYANEEN NORTH, Galway

Monitoring of groundworks associated with the Ballyaneen element of Contract 8 of the Galway Group Water Scheme was carried out in May 2012.  The scheme had been the subject of a Cultural Heritage Assessment in March 2012 that had identified two areas of archaeological potential. These two areas were in the vicinity of a ringfort (GA0123-011) at Ballyaneen North and a tower-house (GA0123-019) at Ballylee; both these areas were subject to full time monitoring. All the groundworks took place along the verge of existing roadways, typically excavation was carried out by an 8 tonne mini-digger to a depth of 1.1m by 0.55m wide. In both areas the road surface overlay a brown silt with frequent stone and limestone bedrock. No finds or features of archaeological significance were identified during the course of the works.