2023:603 - Isert Kelly Castle, Galway

The aim of this excavation is to explore the archaeological evidence for structural remains and occupation deposits in the bawn beside the tower-house of Isert Kelly. Isert Kelly was selected for study because it is a well-preserved tower-house with substantial evidence for other structures around it. The tower-house, which is rectangular in plan and measures c.13m north-south by 10.8m, sits at the south-western corner of a square bawn, now defined by a grassy bank which covers the lower courses of the destroyed bawn wall. The remains of a large, rectangular stone-built structure can be seen in the south-eastern corner of the bawn and evidence for other structures may be seen across the site. This was the eighth season of excavation at Isert Kelly and it is planned to fully publish the results of the excavation after several further excavation seasons are completed.

In 2023, Trench 9 was excavated to the west of Trench 1 and Trench 8. The trench initially measured 8m wide (east-west) by 12m long. The northern end of the trench was later extended by 2m to 3m, and the eastern side of the trench was also extended 3m eastwards at its northern end, meaning the final excavated area measured 8m to 11m across (east-west) and 14m to 15m long. Trench 9 overlapped with both Trench 1 and Trench 8 west-north.

The 2023 excavation season at Isert Kelly has provided some information on two buildings within the site, and on the open spaces between them. The excavation revealed more of Structure 5, which was first discovered in 2022, but little new evidence was found to assist in the interpretation of the building. The discovery of Structure 6, to the west of Structure 5, is interesting, but the date, form and function of this building are not yet clear. The building appears to have been built to a lesser standard than Structure 5 and so one could suggest that it may have served as an outhouse, stable, or byre but, if so, its central position within the southern half of the bawn is therefore unexpected.

The cobbled surfaces within the bawn, and their integrated drainage systems, were revealed to a greater extent in 2023 than before. Context 14, the cobbled surface to the west of Structures 1 & 3 and to the south of C.319, was first uncovered in 2014 but it can now be linked to a similar surface (C.314) to the north. The two cobbled surfaces feature well-made surface drains which are aligned with each other, but their relationship to a larger cross-drain (C.319) which cuts between them is unclear. Since the surface drain in C.14 seems to be aligned on a blocked opening in the bawn wall, it seems possible that the cobbled surfaces originally drained southwards through an opening in the bawn wall.

Birchall, Oughterard, Co. Galway