2025:427 - Carrowcastle, Mayo
County: Mayo
Site name: Carrowcastle
Sites and Monuments Record No.: None
Licence number: 25E0154
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 529351m, N 816734m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.094841, -9.080035
The test excavation of a site in advance of its development in Carrowcastle townland, 4km south-east of Ballina, in County Mayo, was carried out on 14 March 2005. The proposed development consisted of alterations and extensions to an existing dwelling house. The testing took place as part of the planning process and was necessary due to the proposed development site being located within the constraint for an enclosure (RMP No. MA040-002).
The site of the proposed development contained a 20th-century cottage. The remains of monument MA040-002 were located in a field to the south-west of the proposed development site, 10m from the south-west site boundary. A wedge tomb (RMP No. MA040-094 and National Monument No. 293) was located 30m to the east of the proposed development site.
The testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development that was accessible. The trenches measured 13.7m, 23.9m, 30.7m and 15.5m long respectively; 2-2.3m wide and 0.2-0.7m deep.
The stratigraphy in all four trenches consisted of topsoil above natural subsoil. A 20mm diameter water service crossed two of the trenches, at 0.25-0.3m below the surface. Plastic and two modern artefacts were visible in the spoil from two of the trenches.
Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.