County: Galway Site name: Bridge Street, Athenry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA084-001 Licence number: C001008
Author: Richard Crumlish
Site type: Adjacent to Dominican Priory
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 550349m, N 727852m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.298634, -8.744834
Monitoring of the demolition of an unsafe building at the junction of Abbey Row and Bridge Street in Athenry, County Galway, was carried out between 14 and 22 September 2022. The monitoring was recommended in an archaeological assessment, compiled by the writer, of the proposed demolition works in 2020. The monitoring was necessary to ensure that the works had no impact on the adjacent graveyard (RMP No. GA084-001025) of the Dominican Priory (RMP No. GA084-001014), which is a National Monument (No. 164).
The building was a roofless two-storey dwelling with three small, flat-roofed, single-storey extensions. The rear boundary wall of the site backed onto the graveyard of the Dominican Priory. The assessment concluded that the boundary wall had been re-built in the 20th century to incorporate two of the flat-roofed extensions to the rear of the dwelling.
Prior to the commencement of the works, the graves in proximity to the site were protected with the nearest area of the graveyard fenced off and the ground surface covered. The demolished building was found to be constructed of rubble and red brick. No medieval cut stone or architectural fragments were in evidence. Two modern cut and dressed window sills were found. The rear boundary wall was reduced by 0.6-0.85m. The section which was removed was constructed of concrete.
The site area measured 13m east-west by 13m. Levels on the site were reduced by 0.1-0.5m. Below the concrete floor of the demolished building was rubble fill, which contained concrete, metal, ceramic service pipe fragments, red brick fragments, plastic and modern tile fragments. Below the rubble fill was loose grey gravel, which was visible in places. Three modern services crossed the site area.
The material uncovered during the demolition works was contemporary with the building, which dated to the 19th or early 20th century, with later 20th-century extensions. Only modern artefacts were uncovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.
4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo
