2015:385 - Derrigimlagh, Galway

A research excavation was carried out on 22-28 October, 3 November, 23-25 November and 3-4 December 2015 at a site in Derrigimlagh townland c. 3km south of Clifden in County Galway, in advance of its development. The development consisted of the provision of a looped walk, visitor shelters and interpretative materials at the main historic Marconi Telegraphy site, partially located within the Connemara Bog Complex Special Area of Conservation. The development is located in blanket bog on the site of the Marconi Station which was located here between 1906 and 1922. Traces of the main elements of the complex, including the footprints of some of the buildings, are still visible. The main elements of the station were a railway line, a Condenser House, a Power House, a number of bases for aerial masts, a quarry, a Receiving House, a Social Club and a number of residential units which housed the manager, operators, engineers and workmen.

There were no recorded monuments within the development site. The excavation was for research purposes with a number of features dating to the occupation of the site by the Marconi Company in the early 20th century investigated. These included the embankment upon which the railway was located, a number of locations within and along the perimeter of the Condenser House, in the vicinity of the Operator's Bungalow, at the Foreman's Workshop and at a collapsed dry stone wall which was part of an enclosure of unknown date located adjacent to the Engineer's Bungalow. The excavations recovered artefacts associated with the station's workings, e.g. insulators, bolts, nuts, screws, fang bolts, asbestos and clinkers (which would have originated from the Power House) which were used in the construction and/or maintenance of the railway embankment.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo