Skeleton unearthed in field near Oughterard may be 200 years old

Extract from the ‘Connacht Tribune’ 1990

A skeleton found in Oughterard last weekend could have been there for up to 200 years, it has emerged after an examination of the remains.  The discovery was made at Ardnasillagh, on the golf course road near Oughterard, by a local farmer who was digging with a JCB close to a wall running along by the road.

The farmer unearthed a skull and before digging any further he reported his find to the local Gardai.

An extensive search was carried out in that part of the field where the skull was found and the Garda  discovered the remainder of the skeleton.

The remains were taken up to the Anatomy Department at UCG where they were examined and it emerged that the skeleton was that of a teenage girl, possibly 16 or 17 years old.

Further examination revealed that the remains had been there for a long time – possibly even up to 200 years – and it was not possible to determine the cause of death.

Supt. Jim Sugrue of Oughterard Garda station said that the girl may have died during the Famine but the cause of death was unknown.

Extract from the ‘Connacht Tribune’ 1990