County: Galway Site name: Athenry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 22E0098
Author: Colum Hardy
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 550841m, N 727588m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.296307, -8.737413
Archaeological testing took place in the environs of Athenry town Co. Galway, on 23 March and 24 March 2022, as part of the Athenry Sewage Scheme Network Upgrade. The scheme works include the upgrade of the wastewater network including new sewers, upgrade of existing sewers and a new pumping station. Works are to be undertaken in the townlands of Raheen, Ballygarraun South, Prospect, Cullairbaun, Newford, Gortnahown, Baunmore, Knockaunglass, Gorteenacra, Caherroyn, and Athenry.
A limited programme of test trenching totalling 312.5 linear metres across sixteen test trenches revealed nothing of archaeological significance. A modern rubbish pit in Trench 4 in Gortnahown townland, a possible field boundary in Trench 9 in Gorteenacra townland and a former field boundary in Trench 17 in Newford townland were the only features identified.
The proposed scheme transects the Zone of Archaeological Potential for the historic town of Athenry (GA084-001), in close proximity to National Monuments Athenry Castle (GA084-001006-; Nat. Mon. No. 406), and the Dominican Priory (GA084-001014-; Nat. Mon. No. 164). The graveyard (GA084-001025-) of the priory contains numerous graveslabs and wall monuments that are listed on the SMR. Testing within the vicinity of these monuments just south of Athenry Castle was conducted separately under Ministerial Consent C001085 and Registration Number E005383 and for which a separate report was submitted.
An underwater archaeological wade and metal detection survey was also carried out by Frank Mallon of AMS under licences 22R0045 and 22D0007 and under Ministerial Consent C001085 and R000574/D000029.
The findings of the testing were used to update the overarching Cultural Heritage Assessment for the scheme (Donoghue et al. 2022).
References:
Coldrick, B. 2017. Draft Preliminary Desktop Assessment of the Athenry Sewerage Scheme 2017, Athenry, Co. Galway. Unpublished report prepared by Archaeological Management Solutions for RPS Group. June 2017.
Coldrick, B. & Hughes, J. 2021. Preliminary Cultural Heritage Assessment of the Athenry Sewage Scheme Network, Athenry Co. Galway. Unpublished report prepared by Archaeological Management Solutions for Irish Water on behalf of RPS Group.
Donoghue, F., Coldrick, B. & Hughes, J. 2022. Cultural Heritage Assessment of the Athenry Sewerage Scheme Network, Athenry Co. Galway. Unpublished report prepared by Archaeological Management Solutions for Irish Water on behalf of RPS Group.
Hardy, C. 2022. Archaeological Testing, Athenry Sewerage Network Upgrade Scheme, Athenry, Co. Galway Ministerial Consent C001085. Unpublished report prepared by Archaeological Management Solutions for Irish Water on behalf of RPS.
Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd., Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780
