2022:615 - Inis Oírr (Inisheer), Galway

Archaeological monitoring of groundworks was undertaken for Inis Oírr Rehab Water Mains Scheme located on Inis Oírr Island, Co. Galway. The groundworks for the Inis Oírr scheme consisted of a continuous open-cut exploratory trench measuring in total 922 linear metres and located along the local roads in the north portion of the island in An Baile Thíos (Ballyhees) village.
The monitoring of two sections of a continuous open-cut trench measuring in total 220 linear metres was carried out between 4–9 May 2022 and on 30 and 31 May 2022 under Ministerial Consent C001087 issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under Section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 as amended by Section 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004.
The works were undertaken within the two Zones of Notification (ZoN), one surrounding St Gobnet’s Church, known locally as “Cill Ghobnait” (Kilgobnet); (GA120-002001, National Monument No. 41) and ten listed monuments comprising: a graveyard (GA120-002002), a clochan (GA120-002003), two bullaun stones (GA120-002004 and GA120-002005), a cross-slab (GA120-002006), three leachts (GA120-002007–GA120-002009), a structure (GA120-002010) and a cross-inscribed stone (GA120-002012), one Recorded Monument – an ecclesiastical enclosure (GA120-002011), and the other ZoN for Knockgranny Burial Mound, known locally as “Cnoc Raithní” (GA120-005, National Monument No. 41), which is also a Recorded Monument.

Knockgranny Burial Mound (GA120-005)
Trench 1 was located either along the western side or centre of local roads and 1.6m to the west of the burial mound (mentioned above) and measured approximately 135m long, 0.6–1m wide and 0.5–1.0m deep. The stratigraphic sequence in Trench 1 comprised 0.03m of tarmac sealing a 0.05–0.2m deep layer of grey hardcore gravel and small stones, overlying a 0.2–0.9m deep layer of light-whitish grey sand and mid- to dark-brown sand, overlying limestone bedrock, which was encountered at 0.5–0.9m below ground level (BGL). No potential archaeological features, deposits or human bones were noted in this trench.
Opposite the burial mound the ground was disturbed by an older water main trench, which crossed the road running north–south. A bursting part of the water main was replaced in the past and several medium to large angular stones were laid over the main to prevent it from relocation. The stone deposit was situated at 0.3–0.6m BGL and measured 3m long, 0.8m wide and 0.6m deep. An animal bone was recovered from disturbed and redeposited sand which was used to backfill the service trench above the stones. The animal bone could have been either associated with prehistoric or any later human activity in the vicinity of the burial mound. The surrounding area has been entirely changed since discovery and exploration of the mound in 1885 and its restoration about 1896. This area was further investigated, but no potential archaeological features or deposits were noted.

St Gobnet’s Church (GA120-002001)
Trench 2 was located along the centre of a local road to the east of St Gobnet’s Church and measured 85m long, 0.8–1.5m wide and 1m deep. The stratigraphic sequence in Trench 2 comprised 0.02m of tarmac sealing a 0.1–0.2m deep layer of grey hardcore gravel, overlying a 0.05–0.15m deep layer of stone road surface comprising small and medium angular and sub-angular stones, overlying a 0.2–0.7m deep layer of dark-brown peat-like sandy soil mixed with stone rubble, which in turn overlay limestone bedrock, which was encountered at 0.4–0.9m BGL. The layer of stone road surface in some areas was placed directly on bedrock. No potential archaeological features, deposits or human bones were noted in this trench.
A small sherd of black glazed earthenware was recovered from the layer overlying limestone bedrock located approximately 26m to the north-northeast of a gate to an ecclesiastical enclosure (GA120-002011) surrounding St Gobnet’s Church (GA120-002001). It can be dated to the post-medieval/modern period. It was noted that a redeposited material comprising stone rubble was used to build up and level the ground for the entire road in this area. Bedrock was also reduced along the western side of the road as it was exposed above the road level. This could have been done before or around the 1960s when stone was dug out for road building near St Gobnet’s Church. In the same area a single fragment of animal bone cut across at one side was found loose on top of the trench within stone rubble removed from Trench 2. The bone fragment was relatively dry and not stained with soil, suggesting exposure to sun and oxygen. It could have been of any date including post-medieval and modern periods. This area was further investigated, but no potential archaeological objects, features or deposits were noted.

Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare