Posted by Murrisk on August 10, 2001 at 18:19:48:
In Reply to: Re: Archaeologist in Castlebar posted by Bowser on August 08, 2001 at 22:48:41:
Thanks for the information UTP and Bowser. I wonder if there have been archaeological assesments of (1) the antiquities site (tumulus grave?) in McDonald's Lawn on the Westport Road where 80 (?) new houses are to be built; (2) the old floating island (crannóg?) in Lough Lannagh near the river mouth; and (3) the original site of Barry's castle (1235?) around the site of the military barracks.
When the Curragh was expanded, around the time the bypass connecting Spencer Street to the Westport Road was built, I think new houses were built on top of the the old St. Mary's graveyard. As far as I know there was no excavation or reclamation of remains from the graveyard. When the old county home was being rebuilt and expanded in the 1960's, old unmarked 'famine'graves were encountered. All remains were recovered and reburied in the old cemetary.
A number of ancient dug out canoes were recovered from Lough Lannagh in the late 1800's around the time the lake level was first lowered. Given that the lake level is now much lower it would seem reasonable to expect that new finds could be made.