Road

In bogland NE of Clontuskert Priory (GA088-001----). Land Commission operations in 1946 brought to light a togher, running in a N-S direction for at least 1.5km, c. 1m below the bog surface (Prendergast 1946, 15-18). A number of trenches cut through the bog revealed that the togher was constructed of 'a double row of parallel [oak] logs in a bed of brushwood on a layer of gravel' (Wth c. 0.7m). These were joined together at each end by vertical pointed hazelwood stakes. Only a very slight grassed-over ridge now marks the line of the togher, most noticeably towards its S limits. It is locally believed to have run from the priory to Pollboy Church (GA088-020001-) to N, suggesting that it may be of medieval date. Egan (1960, 26) refers to the 'monks pass' close to the 'monk's well' and the 'Priest's kish' near S part of the togher: no visible surface trace survives. 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