2018:304 - Killaloonty, Galway

Pre-development testing of a site on the Weir Road in Killaloonty townland, on the western outskirts of Tuam in Co. Galway, was carried out between 20 and 22 March 2018. The development consisted of the construction of a single-storey light industrial building and associated car parking. Testing was required as part of a Request for Further Information by Galway County Council and was necessary due to the size of the site, the scale of the proposed development and the site's location in proximity to an ecclesiastical enclosure (GA029-104001) which contained a Children's Burial Ground (GA029-104002) and a building (GA029-104003).
The site was located across two fields bounded to the west by the M17 and to the east by Beechtree Business Park. The southern field consisted of relatively flat pasture, the western end of which was almost entirely covered with a 2m high spoil heap. The northern field was grass covered with scrub in places. A 4-6m wide stoned haul road was located across the northern and western sides of the northern field. A stoned storage area was located in the north-east corner of the northern field.
The pre-development testing consisted of the excavation of eight trenches which measured 59.8m, 70.5m, 65.1m, 60.4m, 29.8m, 60m, 26.4m and 79.3m long respectively; 1.9-2.2m wide and 0.4-1.5m deep. The testing revealed evidence of modern fill above topsoil and natural subsoils in the northern of the two fields and natural undisturbed stratigraphy in the southern field. The fill came from the construction of the adjacent M17 and contained modern artefacts, including plastic and concrete. The topsoil contained a small number of modern artefacts. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo