What is recorded here

Dunmore is a historic Galway town where Piers de Bermingham likely founded a borough before dying in 1249. The Sinking River still cuts through streets named High and Gater, preserving the shape of that medieval plan. An Augustinian friary and an enigmatic earthwork marked Mote remain beside the old fording point.

At a fording point on the Sinking River, 1km downstream from Dunmore Castle (GA017-069----). Like the castle, the borough was probably founded by Piers de Bermingham sometimes before his death in 1249 (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 65-6). The above authors (ibid., 67) suggest that it may have been 'concentrated' on N side of the river. A reference to the construction of a town wall exists as early as 1280 (Graham 1972, 14), though no visible surface trace of its line or fabric survives. However, the modern street plan, plot pattern and street names, High St., Gater St., reflect a long urban ancestry. The surviving monuments comprise the Augustinian friary (GA017-005001-), in Barrack St., and the 'Abbey' (GA017-001001-), on N side of Chapel St.; probably the site of the medieval parish church. There is also an enigmatic earthwork (GA017-004----), marked 'Mote' on OS 6-inch map, on E outskirts. (Neary 1914, 101-4; Holland 1988, 77-81) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

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