2021:769 - 15 Market Street, Galway, Galway

Archaeological testing and monitoring were carried out on the site of the proposed development at 15 Market Street, Galway, in October and November 2021. The site is located within the area of archaeological constraint for the historic town of Galway (GA094-100), and contains four armorial plaques (GA094-140) that are set high up on a wall forming part of the north-west boundary of the site. The plaques are believed to date from the 16^th century but are not considered to be in their original location. They are to remain in situ and will not be impacted by the development.

The development site is for the most part covered with buildings pertaining to the former Connacht Tribune offices, built 1969-1971. The existing buildings comprise the main office building, which fronts onto Market Street, a large extension to the rear, and a small toilet block adjoining the west wall of the extension. All buildings are to be retained and refurbished apart from the toilet block which is to be demolished and replaced by a lift and stair core.

Following demolition, a single test trench (7m x 2m) was opened on the site of the former toilet block. Beneath the concrete floor of the demolished building there was 0.7m of redeposited soil and rubble over large boulders and tan-coloured sandy clay natural. In the base of the trench there were remnants of a post-medieval silt deposit with inclusions of oyster shell, charcoal, and animal bones. It was also revealed that the west wall of the modern extension is partly built on an old dry stone wall foundation composed of irregular limestone boulders. The foundation is built directly on the tan-coloured sandy clay, and is likely to be of post-medieval date. This wall will not be impacted by the development as it underlies the wall of the existing extension.

Subsequent monitoring of clearance works on the site of the demolished toilet block revealed mixed rubble and redeposited soils over natural boulders and rock outcrop. A worked limestone block decorated with incised lines and likely part of a late/post medieval fireplace lintel, was recovered from the rubble fill. A ‘lime-mortared wall’, previously uncovered during testing at this site in 2020 (2020:397), was exposed at the north edge of the excavation and revealed to be a modern wall footing built on rubble infill.

The excavation of four crane base pads (dims 2.5m x 1.5m) was monitored within the site access area adjacent to the west wall of the Connacht Tribune office building. The excavations revealed 0.4-0.9m of loose, dry rubble fill over large boulders and rock outcrop. A dressed and chamfered limestone block was recovered from the rubble within one of the pits. The curvature of the stone suggests it is part of the arch of a late/post medieval door.

Dominic Delany & Associates