2026:231 - Farranamartin, Tuam, Galway

The proposed development comprises 149 dwellings to include 99 three-bedroom units, 26 two-bedroom, 16 one-bedroom, as well as eight four-bedroom dwellings. A single storey creche for 36 childcare places is also planned for the development. The subject site is approximately 4.3 hectares and lies in a semi-rural landscape on the outskirts of Tuam town.

The proposed development area is located within 300m of GA029-107—- a kiln and GA029-108—-, a redundant record.

The author excavated 17 test trenches  resulting in a total distance of 1086m coverage on 1 and 2 September 2026 in generally bright but showery conditions. The stratigraphy encountered was consistent throughout the site and comprised a brown clayey silt topsoil with occasional small stone inclusions overlying undisturbed natural subsoil which comprised an orange and brown mottled clay, located at a consistent depth of between 450mm and 500mm. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted.

The metal detector survey was undertaken using a Minelab Vanquish 540 Multi-IQ detector device. The spoil was spread by excavator and subsequently the metal detecting material was walked in transects. The spoil was also subject to a visual search along with survey by metal detection. All the hits proved to be of modern provenance and included tin cans, batteries, scrap metal and general modern refuse. Nothing of archaeological significance was recovered.