County: Mayo Site name: Rathkelly
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None Licence number: 21E0271
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 518814m, N 764247m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.621741, -9.227201
Monitoring of groundworks at a development at Rathkelly townland, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, was carried out from 11 to 17 May 2021. The project consisted of a new athletics facility. The monitoring was a condition of planning permission granted by the local authority. The proposed development was located outside the constraint for the historic town of Ballinrobe (RMP No. MA118-022), in proximity to the site of a medieval castle (MA118-022001).
The site was located within Ballinrobe Town Park, also known locally as 'The Green', on the western bank of the River Robe. An Astroturf pitch was located adjacent to the north with a grass rugby pitch to the west of the development site. Prior to the commencement of the works the site was overgrown with grass and rushes and contained a number of spoil heaps. A long jump pit was located in the north-west corner of the site. There was clear evidence of the filling of the site in recent years with an embankment, measuring 3-8m high, visible along its eastern side.
The groundworks were those associated with the construction of an athletics track, long jump area, javelin and shot putt throwing area and high jump area, as well as drainage. The oval track measured 8.5m wide and was reduced by 0.2-0.55m. It included a 100m long stretch along its west side. The drainage was located within the area reduced for the track. The long jump area was located inside the eastern side of the track. It measured 58m north-south, 6m wide and was reduced by 0.2-0.35m. The area excavated for the javelin and shot putt was located to the west of the northern end of the long jump area. It measured 16m east-west by 7-10m and was reduced by 0.2-0.35m. The high jump area was located inside the southern end of the track. It measured 10-13m east-west by 5-16m and was reduced by 0.3-0.4m.
The monitoring of the groundworks revealed evidence of recent activity at the site. Below the topsoil was modern fill with natural subsoil visible below the fill along a short section of the western side of the track. According to the contractor, who carried out the work, the site was filled up during the 2000s.
None of the modern artefacts recovered were retained. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
