Archaeological excavation report, E2063 Brusk, County Galway

Works are being carried out along the route of the proposed N6 Galway to East of Ballinasloe national road scheme, between the townlands of Doughiska in County Galway and Beagh in County Roscommon. The proposed road will consist of approximately 56 km of dual carriageway, a 7km link road from Carrowkeel to Loughrea and approximately 23km of side roads. There will be four grade‐separated junctions, 36 bridges and a toll plaza located at Cappataggle. The area of proposed archaeological investigation was divided into four contracts, based on four sectors of approximately equal extent. The work described here was undertaken under Archaeological Investigations Contract 2. This covered a stretch of road development of approximately 13.2km of dual carriageway and 7km of single carriageway, and passed to the south of Athenry and Kiltullagh in a generally east/west direction. The project was funded by the Irish Government and the European Union under the National Development Plan 2000– 2006. Headland Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Galway County Council to undertake the works. Arch Consultancy undertook an archaeological survey as part of an Environmental Impact Survey of the route compiled by RPS‐MCOS Engineering in 2005. The kilns were not identified by Arch Consultancy although there were upstanding remains to be seen. An aerial survey was also undertaken, as was a geophysical survey (Archaeophysica 2004). Archaeological test excavations were carried out by M. Jones (03E1874, Galway County Council, National Roads Design Office). On the basis of findings from this work Contract 2 Investigations commenced in September 2005.