2025:278 - Ballaghymurray, Ballymoe, Galway

Archaeological monitoring was carried out at a site in Ballaghymurry, Kilcrone, in the Barony of Ballymoe, in County Galway. The plan is to construct a slatted slurry storage tank, retain an extension to an existing calf shed and retain a calf shed & a slatted
slurry storage tank. Gross floor space of work to be retained: 909.76 sqm. The nearest recorded monument to the proposed development is GA002 002 (enclosure), located approximately 59m south of the southern extent of the farmyard. In consideration of the development’s proximity to GA002-002, it was recommended that groundworks associated with the proposed extension to the calf shed and the proposed slatted slurry storage tank should be subject to archaeological monitoring.

The topsoil was a dark brown clay comprised of a very sandy silty deposit with a high concentration of sand particles and a good amount of old building material mixed through the upper topsoil level. Once this rubble layer was cleared, the underlaying natural was a mottled grey subsoil with patches of glacial till showing up. To the northeast of the site the ground was gravelly with rounded stones and liable to hold water. After the natural level was reached the machine excavated to a greater depth – 2m – to create the slatted slurry storage tank. The tank was then filled with gravel and quickly filled with water after rainfall.

Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered.