CLEARANCE work near a 16th century castle outside Galway city has been halted following a complaint by a local heritage group.
The Old Galway Society objected to the clearance work near Terryland Castle, beside the river Corrib, as it could damage the castle, built by the Clanricarde de Burgos at the end of the 16th century. It claimed that Galway Corporation was carrying out the work.
"We feel that the castle is a very sensitive, historical and archaeological site and we are disturbed that the action took place without the presence of a qualified archaeologist," a society spokesman said.
Although the corporation had no explanation for the large excavator on the site, it is believed to be there for a general clean up.