2023:363 - Ballymagrorty Irish, Ballymagrorty Scotch, Ballintra, Donegal

Archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with the Ballymagroarty Water Mains Scheme (WMS) were carried out between 25 and 27 April 2023 in the townlands of Ballymagrorty Irish and Ballymagrorty Scotch, Co. Donegal. The excavation of a 110m long section of open-cut water main trench comprising 90m within the Zone of Notification (ZoN) for a Recorded Monument (DG103-015----; castle – unclassified) and an additional 20m southeast from the ZoN along the proposed route were monitored. A potential stone structure, fireplace and associated deposits were revealed in the water main trench within the ZoN of castle – unclassified (DG103-015----).
The rescue excavation was undertaken on 26 and 27 April 2023 and revealed archaeological remains likely related to the castle. These remains comprised a potential stone structure, a fireplace and associated charcoal-rich deposit, a limestone block and three adjacent flagstones, three lenses of mortar, a potential rough stone surface and other deposits. All features and deposits were laid directly on bedrock or natural subsoil, and it can be concluded that this area was clear of topsoil at the time of their use.
We can provisionally suggest that the east–west orientated potential stone structure revealed in this work is a partially robbed-out wall footing for a standing structure. The two lenses of sandy mortar associated with it were interpreted as construction trample and must have been deposited during the construction, renovation, or destruction of the building. The limestone block, three flagstones and associated lens of mortar situated 5.55m north-northwest of the potential stone structure were also interpreted as remnants of a stone structure (orientated east–west), potentially robbed-out, most probably part of a floor or yard surface. The stone-lined fireplace and associated charcoal-rich deposit to the northern side of the potential stone structure could have been a remnant of domestic or industrial activity associated with the castle. This feature was sealed by two deposits, which most likely represent destruction layers formed after the castle was abandoned.
At this preliminary stage, we can tentatively suggest that all features and deposits discovered are related to the castle (DG103-015----); however, we cannot determine whether they were part of the main building or remnants of ancillary structures.
Only one sherd of pottery, a late-sixteenth-century sherd of German Westerwald stoneware, was retrieved during these works. It came from a deposit which sealed the fireplace and abutted the potential stone structure. It is from a cobalt blue and grey salt glazed stoneware jug. Decoration on the jug depicts male and female dancers (peasants) under double-arched arcades and bust capitals with a date of [1]597 between the dancing couple. The text underneath reads: […]PER :BLASEͶ:SO:DAͶ[…].
Relatively little is known about the Ballymagrorty castle, neither the date of construction, nor when it likely went out of use. According to Thomas Fagan (1845–8, Book 15, 4-6 cited in Lacey et al., 1983, 382) who visited the site in 1847, the remains of an east–west orientated building, 50 x 14 ft (c.15.24 x 4.26m) in plan, survived to a height of 1–5 ft (c.0.3–1.52m) – and a building, labelled ‘Site of Castle’ shown on Griffith’s Valuation map (1840s) as a rectangular east–west aligned building is most likely the ruin described by Fagan. It was located on the western side of a northwest–southeast road which ran along the townland boundary. Canon Maguire's A History Of The Diocese of Raphoe suggests that this building could have been a church measuring about 75 feet by 40 (Maguire 1920, I, 412). Recent geophysical survey carried out in 2020 has confirmed the location of a rectangular building (c.20m x 9m) in plan, with potential additional features and extensions in the north-eastern corner of the field adjacent to the western side of the road (Gimson & Garner 2020).

References:
Gimson, H., Garner, U. 2020, Land surrounding Castle DG103-015---, Ballymagrorty Irish, Co. Donegal, Archaeological Geophysical Survey, Detection Licence No. 19R0266. Unpublished report No. EAG 399, February 2020 prepared by Earthsound Geophysics Ltd., on behalf of Drumhome Heritage Society.
Lacey, B., Cody. E, Cotter, C., Cuppage, J., Dunne, N., Hurley, V., O'Rahilly, C., Walsh, P. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1983. Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century. Donegal County Council, Lifford.
Maguire, C. 1920. A History of the Diocese of Raphoe, Volume 1 & 2. Browne & Nolan Ltd, Dublin. Available at: https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/digital-book-collection/digital-books-by-county/donegal/maguire-a-history-of-the-/ [Accessed: November 2023].

Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare