2022:417 - Kilgarve, Galway

Monitoring of topsoil stripping at a site in advance of its development on the north side of Church Street (R446-old Dublin Road), in Kilgarve townland, Ballinasloe, County Galway, was carried out between 23 and 26 May 2022. The monitoring followed pre-development testing of the site in March 2022. The development consisted of the construction of forty-seven houses. The testing and subsequent monitoring was a condition of planning permission and was necessary due to the size of the site and the scale of the proposed development.
The development site consisted of a large field of pasture to the west, a portion of the adjoining field of pasture to the east and a smaller area along the R446 at the southern end of the site which was the site of a dwelling and outbuildings, which had been demolished. There were no recorded monuments within or in the immediate vicinity of the development site. A modern graveyard, part of Creagh Cemetery, was located immediately west of the development site.
Pre-development testing of the site was carried out between 8 and 10 March 2022. The testing consisted of the excavation of seven trenches, located to best cover the area of the development. The testing revealed topsoil above natural subsoils and one area of modern rubble. Only modern artefacts were recovered from the topsoil, the rubble and the spoil. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
The entire site area was subsequently stripped to a depth of 0.15-0.6m. Below the topsoil was loose grey sand and gravel, orange/brown plastic clay and orange/brown friable silt loam, all natural subsoils. Modern pottery sherds, modern glass fragments, two butchered animal bone fragments, two oyster shell fragments, two red brick fragments and plastic were found in the topsoil. A 50mm service duct was also uncovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo