2018:439 - Garraun South (Dunkellin By.), Galway

An overgrown mound of demolition debris was noted on the site of a proposed housing development near Oranmore, Co. Galway, during pre-development testing by the Moore Group in 2017 (Licence No. 17E0006; Site No. 2017:307). In September, 2018, the mound was being moved as part of the construction phase of the project and architectural fragments of medieval date were identified by Bernie Doherty, archaeologist. Following consultations with Dr Jim Higgins, Heritage Officer, Galway City Council, it was confirmed that the debris originated in Galway City and had been deposited on the site at Garraun South over twenty years ago. The National Museum of Ireland were informed and they requested that a new licence be applied for to investigate the mound and to facilitate cataloguing any medieval stone that was discovered.
The demolition debris was mechanically spread and examined over a seven-day period between 7-20 December 2018. The majority of the stone examined consisted of simple quarried limestone blocks and these were not catalogued. Forty-five stones were catalogued as they had evidence of some element of dressing but they were not from recognisable medieval features and they will be retained on the site in Garraun South, incorporated into a boundary wall with the quarried stone. Fifteen architectural fragments were discovered and catalogued, largely dating between the 16th and 17th century, but with a 13th/14th-century stone and a late 15th/early 16th-century stone also identified. These architectural fragments were accepted by Galway City Museum.

80 Portacarron, Ballymoneen Road, Galway.