2025:641 - Ballymacarry, Donegal
County: Donegal
Site name: Ballymacarry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None
Licence number: 25E1034
Author: Richard Crumlish
Author/Organisation Address: 4 Lecka Grove, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 635406m, N 932907m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.142238, -7.444662
The test excavation of a site in advance of its development at Ballymacarry townland, on the eastern outskirts of Buncrana, County Donegal, was carried out on 24 November 2025. The proposed development consisted of the construction of a dwelling house. The testing was carried out as part of the planning process and was necessary as the development site was located within the constraint for a cashel (RMP No. DG009-026).
The site was located in a relatively flat area, the eastern half of which was a field of pasture and the western half of which was wooded. The wooded area contained a number of dry stone boundary walls and loose boulders and was overgrown with ferns and briars. There were no surface remains of the cashel DG009-026 and no features of archaeological significance were visible within the proposed development site.
The testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development site which was accessible. The trenches measured 12.1m, 27.2m, 13.5m and 11.5m long respectively; 1.8-2.1m wide and 0.2-0.7m deep.
The pre-development testing revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy, i.e. topsoil above natural subsoils. Teo modern pottery sherds were recovered from the spoil from two of the test trenches. Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.