2020:702 - Carrigeenacreeha 1, Roscommon

Carrigeenacreeha 1 was excavated in advance of construction of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project in County Roscommon by Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) for Roscommon County Council (RCC) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The site consisted of an extant vernacular structure and an associated yard, located outside of the road corridor, depicted on the six-inch OS map (1838) and on the 25-inch OS map (1914) which was recorded in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) as CHC19 (Roughan & O’Donovan-AECOM 2017, 292). The vernacular structure which was excavated was located c.5m to the north of this extant structure and was likely an associated outbuilding depicted on the 25-inch OS map (1914). The subsurface remains of the vernacular structure were subsequently identified during Stage (i)c Test Excavations, carried out by AMS under Ministerial Direction (Direction No. A077, Registration No. E5070) (Hardy 2021).

The vernacular structure was enclosed by a curved ditch which measured 12.5m by 1.2–2.1m by 0.14–0.35m deep and contained a single fill. This ditch was truncated by a northwest/east-southeast drain and a north–south drain and overlain by a rubble layer. The rubble layer was roughly north–south aligned and measured 2.7m by 2m, by 0.19m deep. These features were likely associated with the original extant structure. The vernacular structure was roughly east–west orientated, measured 11.5m by 1.2–2m in total externally with two phases of construction comprising a structure and an annexe. The structure comprised two L-shaped walls to the east and west. The walls were constructed with rubble cores and may have had earth mortar. There was an internal cobbled surface, which was overlaid by a clay floor in the east and west corners of the structure. The annexe abutted the eastern wall of the structure and similarly had walls constructed with rubble cores. Internally there was a cobbled stone floor. This floor was truncated by a pit which measured 1.24m by 0.7m by 0.18m deep and contained one fill, which contained a large amount of chinaware and brown glazed red earthenware.

According to Griffith’s Valuation (1857–58), the house and land were leased directly from Oliver D.J. Grace of the Mantua Estate by Patrick Gannon. By the 1901 census, it was occupied by the family of Mary Gannon, who may have been a daughter or daughter-in-law of Patrick. She lived with her son Patrick and her daughter Maria. Only Patrick was recorded as still living with her in the 1911 census.

A total of 619 artefacts were found during the investigation, all of which, except for a lithic (E5196:575), are likely to be associated with the structure. These have been analysed by the relevant specialists and determined to be mostly nineteenth–twentieth century in date, which supports the historical findings regarding occupation.

Written on behalf of director, Siobhan McNamara

References

Ask About Ireland. 2003. Griffith’s Valuation. [Online]. [Accessed: 3 June 2022]. Available from: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffithvaluation/

Hardy, C. 2021. N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Stage (i)a, (i)b, (i)c Test Excavation, Stage (i)m Testing in Felled Forestry and Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Survey. Ministerial Direction No. A077, Registration No. E5070. Unpublished AMS report for TII and RCC.

National Archives of Ireland. 2012. Census of Ireland 1901/1911. [Online]. [Accessed: 3 June 2022]. Available from: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Roughan & O’Donovan-AECOM. 2017. N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Environmental Impact Assessment Report. TII and Roscommon National Road Design Office. Available at: http://www.roscommoncoco.ie/en/Services/Roads/Publications-and-Information/N5-Ballaghaderreen-to-Scramoge-Road-Project/Environmental-Impact-AssessmentReport/Volume-2B-EIAR-Chapter-11-19/00-EIAR.pdf. [Accessed 11 November 2021]

[caption id="attachment_53548" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Complete bowl and partial stem from pipe, from topsoil at Carrigeenacreeha 1. Stem bears partial lozenge-shaped cartouche with rope work. Bowl has rouletted decoration around rim and ‘43’ enclosed in a circle. This is the maker’s mark for Laurence O’Gorman of Galway City, operating from 1881–1890. The term ‘43’ was used as a type of pipe by Devlin’s of Dublin ‘til as late as 1950, dated to the mid-19th century.[/caption]

Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS), Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare