2024:064 - Athenry, Galway

A programme of archaeological monitoring of groundworks was undertaken to facilitate a sewerage scheme upgrade in Athenry town and environs. The scheme involved the upgrade of the wastewater network including new sewers, upgrade of existing sewers and a new pumping station. Works were undertaken in the townlands of Raheen, Ballygarraun South, Prospect, Cullairbaun, Newford, Gortnahown, Baunmore, Knockaunglass, Gortennacra and Caherroyn.

Works were also carried out within the Zone of Notification (ZoN) for the historic town of Athenry (GA084-001--), with works carried out near Athenry Castle (GA084-001006--/Nat. Mon. No. 406), the Dominican Priory (GA084-001014--/Nat. Mon. No. 164) and the town defences (GA084-001001--; RPS 132).

Monitoring within the ZoN for the Historic Town (GA084-001---) was carried out under Ministerial Consent C001085, Registration Number E005383 and related Metal Detection Consent R000574 and the remaining sections of the scheme were monitored under Licence Number 22E0098 ext. A separate Metal Detection Licence (23R0391) was issued to the author for works in the areas of the scheme outside the ZoN for Athenry Historic Town.

The work was carried out between March 2023 and March 2024.

The stratigraphy was consistent throughout the greenfield areas outside the town, with topsoil and sod extending to between 200mm and 400mm overlying a mid-brown to yellowish moderately compact sandy clay with occasional outcrops of bedrock.

Two photogrammetric surveys were undertaken to record in 3D the existing fabric of impacted sections of two vernacular stone walls, in the townlands of Gorteenacra and Prospect.

During excavation works in the immediate vicinity of Athenry Castle at the location of the conjectural line of the town defences (550349/728019), a section of a surviving subsurface foundation and wall collapse possibly dating to the 14^th century was observed in the northern trench section face on Court Lane. The wall did not cross the pipeline trench, which may indicate the earlier presence of a small gate at this location. The foundation of the wall was built of limestone facing and incorporated a large erratic boulder and the collapsed wall material comprised of mortar-jointed masonry. The foundation measured 1m and the collapsed material extended to a length of roughly 2m.

After consultation with the NMS and NMI, the client and clients’ representatives, minor adjustments were made to the pipeline route and the proposed location of a manhole was moved further to the north to avoid any direct impacts on the foundation material.

The wall was recorded and surveyed and preserved in situ by covering with a layer of terram and sand, ensuring its long-term preservation and protection.

In January 2024 works progressed along Bridge Street continuing west into the historic town and the junction with Athenry Community Park/Court Lane, adjacent to the Dominican Priory. Archaeological monitoring was carried out at this location under the section 14 Ministerial Consent.

At the eastern end of Bridge Street at the conjectural location of the line of the town wall, a deposit of rubble was observed in section for an approximate length of 6m east-west. A western edge to this deposit was defined by a single course of roughly hewn stones. Initially it was assumed that this line of stones represented the remains of a culvert lining. Upon removal it was noted by the author that the rubble deposit was no longer present as the works progressed to the west. It is possible that the deposit of rubble may represent collapsed material from the town wall at this location. No evidence of Brittan Gate was identified at this location.

The stone deposit overlay a mid-brown sandy clay with frequent inclusions of medium sized angular stones. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted in this deposit.

Directly north of the graveyard wall of the Dominican Abbey ((GA084-001014--/Nat. Mon. No. 164) and approximately 60m east of the Clarin River, the partial remains of a mortared limestone wall was identified in the southern face of the trench approximately 5m north of the graveyard wall. The wall ran east-west along the face of the trench. Only one course survived for a length of approximately 1.8m before veering slightly south out of the trench, beyond the excavation area. The wall was of squared limestone blocks bonded with sandy, pale brown mortar. It was truncated at the top by an earlier road surface and appeared to rest on loose boulders and soil. No substantial foundations were observed. The wall extended from 450mm below the modern road surface to a depth of 900mm below road surface. This feature was not directly impacted by the works and was preserved in situ. It may represent an earlier boundary wall to the Abbey, prior to later road widening.

3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway