2017:715 - North Gate, Athenry, Galway

Archaeological monitoring of excavations associated with a programme of public realm improvements works at North Gate, Athenry was carried out in October-November 2016 and May 2017. The works comprised relocation of signage, gullies and service conduits, installation of lighting, and the laying of cobblelock paving in the immediate vicinity of the gate. The works were carried out under Ministerial Consent S14. North Gate forms part of Recorded Monument GA084-001 (Historic town) and is the only surviving gate in the medieval town wall of Athenry. Four gates are marked and named on John Browne’s Plan of Athenry compiled in 1583; ‘Nicolas Gate’, ‘Brittin Gate’, ‘Spitle Gate’ and ‘Loro Gate’. It is thought that these four gates were contemporary with the original wall built sometime following the murage grant of 1310. North Gate is believed to have been built as part of the program of repairs to the town defences initiated by the Lord Deputy Henry Sydney in 1576 following the capture of the town two years previously by the sons of the Earl of Clanricard. Although it is not marked on Browne's plan it is considered likely that the gate was in existence at this time.
North Gate has been subject to extensive repairs and re-building in the 19th and 20th centuries, the extent of which are clear from early photographs and disparities in the stonework. However much of the internal fabric of the structure, including the portcullis slot, murder hole and wicker-centred vaulted stonework spanning the first and second floors, are of medieval date. Externally the voussoirs of the medieval arch survive above the later pointed arch on the south face of the gate. Other medieval features include the centrally-placed slit window in the north wall and the buttressing on the south-east side of the gate, although the latter was partly rebuilt in the 19th century. The corners of the gate building are much rebuilt but medieval dressed limestone quoins survive in the upper half of the north-west corner.
Monitoring of excavations in the vicinity of North Gate revealed a short length of medieval wall below the upstanding, and partly rebuilt, south-east wall of the gate. The sub-surface walling may be the original south-east wall of the gate, or possibly part of the town wall pre-dating the gate. A short section of cobbling was uncovered on the west side of the road, immediately north of the gate. The cobbled surface and adjoining limestone kerbstones most likely date from the early 20th century. Most of the excavated areas had been disturbed as a result of previous groundworks associated with services and other roadworks. No medieval stratigraphy was encountered although a much disturbed silt deposit containing inclusions of animal bone and shell may be the remnants of a medieval or post-medieval deposit. Orange/brown clay subsoil was uncovered at several locations and was found to overlay grey clayey sand and gravel, and bedrock or large boulders. The average depth at which rock/natural deposits occurred was just 0.5m below the existing road and footpath surfaces.

Dominic Delany & Associates, Creganna, Oranmore, Co. Galway