2023:350 - Chapel Street, Swinford, Mayo

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development off Chapel Street in Swinford, County Mayo, was carried out on 26 September 2023. The project consisted of an extension to a convent graveyard. The report on testing was to accompany a planning application for the proposed development. The testing was necessary due to the location of the proposed development site within the constraint for an enclosure (RMP MA062-075). The enclosure was depicted on the 1837 OS six-inch map but not on later editions. There is no trace of the monument at ground level. The northern part of the enclosure may underlie the existing nuns' graveyard.

The writer carried out pre-development testing of the site immediately south of the nuns' graveyard in May 2009 (Excavation Licence No. 09E0226) and uncovered two sections of the bank of the enclosure. The two sections were located 30m apart and 3m south of the southern boundary wall of the graveyard. This evidence appeared to confirm that the graveyard is located on the northern half of the enclosure.

The proposed development site was located just north of the graveyard, to the rear of the Sisters of Mercy Convent and consisted of an overgrown area enclosed by a wooden fence, which have been in use as garden associated with the convent.

The testing consisted of the excavation of one trench which measured 18.3m long, 1.2-1.5m wide and 1-1.5m deep. Below the imported topsoil on the surface was the original topsoil, above orange/brown plastic clay. The imported topsoil contained plastic and an aluminium beverage can. The original topsoil contained one modern pottery sherd, one red brick fragment and one animal bone fragment. Nothing of archaeological significance was found. There was no evidence of the enclosure having extended into the proposed development site.

4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, County Mayo