County: Westmeath Site name: Tully, Baylin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: Vicinity of WM029-030 (Inauguration site) and WM029-031 (Bawn) Licence number: 21E0290
Author: Fiona Maguire
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 611135m, N 740240m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.412172, -7.832516
An Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA), including archaeological testing, was carried out in advance of a planning application on lands in the townland of Tully, Baylin, Co. Westmeath in March 2021. The proposed development site is located on the north-western side of a farm complex. It is also within the Zone of Notification of two recorded monuments, an inauguration site (WM024-030----) and bawn (WM029 -031----). Neither monument will be impacted by works.
The immediate area within the farm complex is known as Tullymagawly, associated with the Magawly or Mac Amhlaidh family, who were chiefs in the area from at least the twelfth century. Although no trace of their residence has been recorded, two late medieval windows dated to between the fifteenth and mid-sixteenth centuries, have been re-used in buildings in the farmyard to the south-east of the proposed development site.
Testing was undertaken on 20 May 2021. Five trenches were excavated across the footprint of the development site. No archaeological finds or features were noted. The site has been used previously as an orchard and this was evident during testing. Recommendations were made in relation to the establishment of constraint zones around the recorded archaeology.
As a result of the walkover survey, previously unrecorded late medieval masonry and the potential site of the castle were located. The ASI will be notified of their location.
Atlantic Archaeology, Pier Road, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
