Archaeology of medieval and early-modern farming on the N17 Milltown to Gortnagunned Road

Since 2000 archaeological investigations on major public transport projects have been delivered by private-sector archaeological companies and managed for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the NRA) by TII project archaeologists, all under the aegis of a Code of Practice for Archaeology agreed between TII and the Minister for Heritage (2000; Rev. 2017). This has resulted in the managed investigation of over 2,000 significant archaeological sites and a steady stream of new information for the benefit of scholars and the public, via books, journal articles, exhibitions, public seminars and local lectures, on-site open days and a wealth of web-based data including excavation reports posted to a dedicated TII section in the Digital Repository of Ireland (www.dri.ie).

In 2024 pre-construction investigations on the N17 Milltown to Gortnagunned road project in north Galway discovered several Bronze Age cooking sites, medieval charcoal-burners pits, remains of a medieval farmstead and recorded the remnants of the ancestral home of Hugh Carey, one of Milltown’s most famous sons (House of Representatives 1961-74, Governor of New York 1975-1982, obit. 2011). The excavations were conducted for Galway County Council by IAC Archaeology with funding from TII. Join us for on Sunday 24 August, during national Heritage Week, TII Archaeologist will talk about the results of the work in Milltown Community Hall. This public lecture is part of a programme of events (A Celebration of Heritage, History & Homegrown Talent).

Please visit www.millltown.galwaycommunityheritage.org for further details.