2023:459 - Comerford House & Sea Gate, Spanish Arch, Galway, Galway

Archaeological excavation was carried out by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. during November 2023 under Ministerial Consent no. C000896, Excavation Licence no. E005010 and Detection Device Licence no. R000547, in association with the proposed development and refurbishment of Comerford House and the proposed construction of a 3-storey building connected to the northern gable end of Comerford House in the former Sea Gate area, at Spanish Arch, in Galway City.

The excavation site is located within the Zone of Notification for the historic town of Galway (GA094-100—-) and the structure of Comerford House incorporates elements of the historic town defences/city wall (GA094-100001-). Comerford House, which formed the primary excavation area, is a Protected Structure (RPS: 4003 / NIAH: 30319025). The wider development site also contains two further Protected Structures comprising the ‘Spanish Arch’ (RPS: 4001) which adjoins Comerford House to the south, and the Athy Doorcase (RPS: 4002), which is located within the blind arch of the Spanish Arch.  The secondary excavation area was located to the north of Comerford House at the site of the historic Sea Gate which adjoins the northern gable end of Comerford House.

As part of the proposed development scheme, the site was previously subjected to archaeological test-excavations by Aegis Archaeology Ltd. in 2020 (Ministerial Consent No. C000896; E005010). The interior of Comerford House was extensively tested. The modern floors were removed across the interior. Ten areas were investigated in detail, with nine individual trenches opened. Archaeological layers and features were noted in all of the excavated trenches. The trenches were excavated to ascertain the depth of archaeological layers and location of walls. Modern material was also removed from the late medieval cobbled road to the east of Comerford House. The cobbled floor surface and the area of the Sea Gate were also cleaned by hand, exposing the stone, before being covered by a weed barrier and sand. The associated testing report recommended that Room 1 of Comerford House be fully excavated to the level of the medieval cobble layer identified in the test-trenches in this area.

The purpose of the archaeological excavation was to fully investigate and record any archaeological and/or potential archaeological features identified during earlier archaeological testing at the site; with a particular emphasis on the presumed medieval materials in the Room 1 area of Comerford House. The purpose of archaeological excavation in the Sea Gate area of the site was to investigate the potential presence of any subsurface archaeology at this location. The excavation works were carried out to fulfil the archaeological provisions set out by Galway City Council in relation to the proposed development of the site.

Archaeological excavation took place from 1-15 November 2023, under Ministerial Consent No. C000896, with excavations conducted under Licence No. E005010; the same numbers covered the previous test-excavations carried out in 2020. A metal detection survey under Licence No. R000547 was carried out concurrently with the archaeological excavation.

Two areas were excavated. Area 1 was within the south-west end of Comerford House. The excavation area comprised the entire Room 1 and a meter-wide trench at the south-west end of Room 2. Area 2 was a 1m wide trench excavated across the exterior plot to the northeast of Comerford House in the former Sea Gate location. Seven consecutive phases of archaeological activity were identified during the excavations, with the earliest (Phase 1) comprising the town wall, and the latest (Phase 7) comprising the mid-20^th-century building.

The excavation within the original footprint of Comerford House revealed a rubble make-up deposit which abutted the city wall, below a north-west/south-east aligned wall which was contemporary with the south-west gable of Comerford.

Seven phases of activity were recorded in Room 1 of Comerford House, representing the construction of the town wall, Comerford House, an external cobbled surface and the construction and modification of a two-story building between the south-east gable of the original Comerford House and the Spanish Arch. A cobbled surface which abutted the external face of the south-west wall of Comerford House at the base of excavation post-dated Comerford House and pre-dated the two-story building.

Intact archaeological deposits were revealed at the base of excavation in Area 2 at 0.92m OD. The face of the city wall was revealed. The base of the city wall was not reached.

The concurrent metal detection survey involved the metal detection of all excavated materials from both excavation areas. No archaeological finds were identified during the metal detection survey.