Man-made underground passage in Graigue (loughrea By.)

On a low rise. This well-preserved drystone-built Man-made underground passage (L >12m) was discovered in 1990 during the course of work to extend the golf course in Loughrea. It consists of two chambers connected by a creep and is T-shaped in plan. Access was gained to the 1st chamber (L 8m, Wth 2.3m), running NE-SW, at a breach caused by a JBC. A short creep (L 0.8m; Wth 0.85m) at its NE end lead to the 2nd chamber (L 3.3m, Wth 1.5m) which runs NW-SE. This chamber was blocked by collapse at its SE end. During a partial excavation which took place following the discovery, the original entrance was located at SE end of the 2nd chamber. A corroded iron spearhead, possibly dating to 9th or 10th C, was recovered immediately outside it. Other finds of 20th-C glass indicated that the Man-made underground passage was open c. 60 years ago and this was confirmed by local information (Fitzpatrick 1990). Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 31 May 2017