2026:215 - Aughnanure Castle Carpark, Galway

Archaeological monitoring was carried out at the carpark of Augnanure Castle (RMP GA054-002, GA054-002001) under Ministerial Consent C0001132, Registration No. E005444. The ground across the entire site was reduced to a depth of 0.25-0.3m. Gravel was removed, exposing an orange and light grey sand with frequent stones. To the east by the river, an orangish-brown, clayey silt was exposed, where trees and other vegetation grew.  To the north of the site, a culvert was cleaned that ran beneath the road, an area 5m east to west by 2m by 1m depth was excavated. Dark brown clayey silt, tree roots, loose stone, and modern rubbish filled the culvert. To the west of the site, a duct trench was excavated, aligned north-to-south. It measured 32m in length, 1m in width, and 0.6m in depth. Gravel lay over orange sand with frequent stones, which lay over mottled grey and orange sandy clay, and at the northern end of the trench, natural material was seen in the form of a bright orange silt. The ground was made-up ground; natural was only seen at the northern end of the duct trench. No archaeological structures, features or deposits were identified during the course of groundworks.