2021:785 - BALLINA (Erris By.), Mayo

A program of Archaeological Testing within the immediate environs of MA030-055 Castle – Unclassified was carried out following a previous detailed background Archaeological Assessment of the location of proposed works. Reliable historical and cartographic sources suggest a castle was located within the immediate environs of the current Ballina House but pinpointing the exact location has not been possible. Structure MA030-055 Castle is in a derelict state with a collapsed roof and masonry is mostly covered with a modern plaster or render. There are no obvious diagnostic physical medieval features visible on the internal or external portions of the structure and this coupled with background research and negative evidence from testing points more towards an 18/19th-century interpretation for the dating of the current tower structure.

The castle may be incorporated within MA030-055 but could equally be incorporated into the foundations of the current Ballina House or it could have been within the environs of either. Archaeological testing was carried out in advance of finalising the design for proposed building and conservation works at outbuildings located immediately east of Ballina House.

Six test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the area. High levels of demolition rubble and infill across the area tested hampered the ability to reach natural or original subsoil ground levels across this site. What appeared to be a natural subsoil level was identified in Test trench 1 at the south end and across all of Trench 3 to the north of (outside) the courtyard area. A possible natural subsoil layer was identified at the base of Trenches B and C at depths below 1–1.5m below existing levels but it was impossible to investigate this layer fully due to safety constraints and lack of space to store fill material excavated by machine. No evidence for any medieval features, finds or deposits were uncovered in any of the trenches.

Testing cannot be considered conclusive in terms of ruling out archaeological layers below certain depths. Levels were taken on the surface of fill layers and at the base of excavated trenches in order to highlight areas where there is a higher risk of foundations impacting on potential archaeological layers. Despite extensive research and site investigations it has not been possible to definitively identify any historical sources, archaeological layers or masonry features to positively identify the existing tower structure as a medieval castle. On this basis it is recommended this structure be viewed as being more likely to be an 18/19th-century industrial/agricultural building.