2015:470 - Isert Kelly Castle, Galway

The aim of this excavation is to explore the archaeological evidence for structural remains and occupation deposits in the bawn beside the tower-house of Isert Kelly. Isert Kelly was selected for study because it is a well-preserved tower-house with substantial evidence for other structures around it. The tower house, which is rectangular in plan and measures c.13m north-south by 10.8m, sits at the south-western corner of a square bawn, now defined by a grassy bank which covers the lower courses of the destroyed bawn wall. The remains of a large, rectangular stone-built structure can be seen in the south-eastern corner of the bawn and evidence for other structures may be seen across the site. This was the second season of excavation at Isert Kelly and it is planned to fully publish the results of the excavation after several further excavation seasons are completed.

The focus of the 2015 excavation was an area to the north of the tower-house on the western side of the bawn. A 10m (east-west) x 8m trench was excavated and this cutting, labelled Trench 2, was deliberately laid out to target a rectangular structure which was evident on the site prior to the commencement of the excavation. The structure was defined by at least three wall footings which were covered with vegetation and sod, while the eastern end of the feature was not obvious prior to excavation. The excavated strata consisted primarily of a thin layer of sod and topsoil overlying deeper rubble and structural deposits. Removal of the topsoil and the various rubble layers (C.20/21) revealed several structural features more clearly. Three of these walls together formed three sides of Structure 2, a post-medieval building of uncertain function which appears to be rectangular in plan, though the eastern wall of the structure was not uncovered in Trench 2. The northern, western and southern walls (C.22, C.23, C.24) enclosed an area measuring 4.4m wide (north-south) by at least 7.7m long and the walls were generally 0.7m to 0.85m thick. The function of the structure is unknown, but it appears to date to the post-medieval period since large fragments of post-medieval glass bottles were found between and under the stones of the western and northern walls. No doorway was noted and two hearths (C.35 and C.38) found within the structure may pre-date it. Paving (C.27) found along the inside of the northern wall may once have been more extensive.

At the eastern end of Trench 2, within the limits of Structure 2, a possible soakaway or drainage feature (C.33) was uncovered. It was defined by large limestone blocks set close together vertically and it may have been created to assist drainage within Structure 2, an arrangement which would support the interpretation of Structure 2 as a byre, stable or similar building. However, the stratigraphic relationship between Structure 2 and Context 33 is not fully understood and Context 33 may predate the building. Work will continue in this area in 2016.

Birchall, Oughterard, Co Galway