2023:791 - Bowling Green, Townparks, Galway, Galway

The Bowling Green, Galway City, Co. Galway scheme forms part of a larger nationwide Water Network Programme that is being undertaken by Uisce Éireann. The scheme involved the installation of rehabilitated water mains totalling c.72m along Bowling Green and at junctions with Lombard Street, Market Street, Newtownsmith and Abbeygate Street Upper, 53m of transfer of private side service connections and the decommissioning of 142m of existing pipeline.
The groundworks for the scheme consisted of five trial holes and open-cut trenches associated with the installation method located along Bowling Green scheme.
The archaeological monitoring of advance Site Investigation works was carried on 18 and 20 September 2023 on the five Trial Holes (THs) (TH1A–TH4) located along the scheme’s route: one (TH2) on the west corner of Bowling Green, two (TH1A, TH1B) towards Market Street/Lombard Street and two (TH3, TH4) towards Mary Street. Remnants of cobbled road surface were revealed in TH1A, TH1B and TH4 underlying the existing tarmacadam road surface.
The monitoring for installation was carried out between 1 November and 15 December 2023. An open-cut trench was excavated for approximately 72m from the junction at Market Street/Lombard Street west-northwest to the western corner of Bowling Green. Services trenches were also excavated to connect properties along this section, along with additional trenches to the existing main from the western corner of Bowling Green towards Mary Street. Seven sections of wall, six cobbled surfaces, one cobbled kerb and one rubble surface were identified during monitoring of works, two sections of wall were more substantial and are probably elements from the town defences.

Walls C.14 and C.16 and surfaces C.13 and C.15
Two sections of wall foundation were revealed within the north-western portion of the main trench. The first section of wall (C.14) measuring 1.7m by 0.5m by 0.2m in height was found at 4.75–4.85m (OD), (529637.51, 725276.71 ITM). The wall C.14 was roughly orientated north-north-east/south-south-west and was built with large flat rubble limestone bonded with clay and lime mortar. Overlying C.14 was a cobbled surface (C.13) measuring 1.45m by 0.5m by 0.06m in depth, found at 5.16m (OD) and comprising water-rolled cobbles that showed polished wear.
Located c.8.8m to the northwest of the wall C.14, was a wall (C.16) that was found at a depth of 4.2–4.4m (OD), (529629.29, 725283.82 ITM). The wall C.16 was roughly orientated north-north-east/south-south-west and measured 2.3m by 0.9m by 0.4m in height. It was built with rubble limestone and sandstone bonded with gritty-lime mortar and two courses were identified in the western elevation. Partially overlying C.16 was a cobbled surface (C.15) measuring 1.9m by 0.2m by 0.07m in depth which comprised water-rolled cobbles that showed polished wear at 4.66m (OD).

Walls C.17 and C.18
Two portions of wall (C.17 and C.18) were identified at the junction of Bowling Green and Market Street/Lombard Street at 5.93m and 6.02m (OD) (529688.69, 725253.3 ITM and 529688.38, 725252.33 ITM). Wall C.17, measuring 1.5m by 0.68m by 0.4m in height, was a north-east/south-west orientated rubble limestone wall bonded with lime mortar, with backfilled rubble elements consisting of dressed limestone and a carved half arch. Wall C.18, measuring 1.2m by 0.4m, was a north-west/south-east orientated rubble limestone wall bonded with lime mortar. It was heavily truncated by previous services to the southeast. The gap between C.17 and C.18 was partially filled with architectural fragments and rubble limestone (C.19) at 5.8m (OD).

Walls C.5, C.6 and C.10, potential culvert C.12, cobbled surfaces C.4, C.7–C.9, cobbled kerb C.3 and rubble surface C.11
Three sections of potential walls (C.5, C.6, C.10), a possible culvert (C.12) and cobbled surfaces (C.3, C.4, C.7–C.9) were revealed within house connection trenches and in the main trench. Wall (C.5) was found opposite No. 3 Bowling Green at 5.5m (OD). It measured 1m by 0.5m in height and comprised a lime mortar bound limestone with one identifiable sandstone. Wall (C.6) was found opposite No. 5 Bowling Green at 5.4m (OD). It measured 1m by 0.42m by 0.11m and comprised a single roughly pecked south-westerly faced limestone, with lime mortar present around stone. Immediately southwest of C.6, a cobbled surface (C.7) was revealed at 5.3m (OD). It measured 0.9m by 0.5m and comprised water rolled cobbles. Wall (C.10) was found opposite No. 7 Bowling Green at 5.46m (OD). It measured 0.85m by 0.5m by 0.25m in height and comprised two courses of limestone bounded by lime mortar. Either side of the wall C.10, a rubble surface (C.11) was revealed at 5.2m (OD). It measured 2.1m by 0.5m and comprised rubble stone. Two sections of cobble surface (C.8 and C.9) were identified further to the southwest and west of C.11. C.8 was identified at 5.36m (OD) and measured 0.8m by 0.5m by 0.06m in depth, while C.9 was found at 5.34m (OD) and measured 0.55m by 0.25m by 0.05m in depth. Potential culvert/wall (C.12) was found opposite No. 9 Bowling Green at 5.26m (OD). It measured 0.9m by 0.5m and comprised of two limestone blocks with a combined measurement of 0.9m by 0.5m over a void at a depth of 0.45m to the east-southeast of the trench. Cobble kerb (C.3) and cobbled surface (C.4) was found opposite No. 6 Bowling Green. C.3 at 5.81m (OD); measured 0.5m by 0.2m by 0.08m in depth and comprised water rolled cobbles. C.4 was revealed at 5.3m (OD). It measured 0.4m by 0.3m by 0.05m in depth and comprised water rolled cobbles.
The exposed sections of town defences and potential walls related to Colligate House were preserved in situ, covered with a protective membrane and layer of gravel. Post medieval/modern ceramics were recovered from five locations along the scheme.