Archaeological excavation report, E2440 Ballykeeran, 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 7 km link road from Carrowkeel to Loughrea and approximately 23 km of side roads. There will be four grade‐separated junctions, 36 bridges and a toll plaza located at Cappataggle. The area of proposed archaeological investigations was divided into four contracts, based on four sectors of approximately equal extent. The work described here was undertaken under Archaeological Investigations Contract 2. Contract 2 covered a stretch of road development of approximately 13.2 km of dual carriageway and 7 km of single carriageway, and passed to the south of Athenry and Kiltullagh in a general 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. Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd undertook an archaeological assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Survey of the route compiled by RPS‐MCOS in 2005. On the basis of findings from this work Contract 2 Investigations commenced in September 2005.