County: Galway Site name: N59 Maam Cross to Bunnakill Stage (i)b Hand Testing – Lurgan or Shindilla
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: E004960
Author: Leo Morahan for TVAS (Ireland) Ltd
Site type: Road
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 498210m, N 746080m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.454942, -9.532633
Test trenching was carried out on behalf of Galway County Council and funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in advance of construction of the N59 Maam Cross to Bunnakill Road Project. Two machine-dug test trenches were excavated in a previously known but unprotected road, an earlier 19th-century iteration of the N59 that continues in use as track to access turf cuttings.
The trenches showed that the road is a rough track built on top of the bog with a layer of clayey sand topped by stone. Modern maintenance and repair is evident as the road is still in continuous use.
The record made during the test trenching is considered sufficient and no further archaeological work is recommended.
Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare
