County: Louth Site name: PORT ORIEL, Clogherhead
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LH022-049 Licence number: 05D033/05E1434
Author: Julianna O’Donoghue, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Quay
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 716947m, N 784623m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.798003, -6.224774
Port Oriel Harbour is currently being upgraded by the Department of the Marine. The development includes an extension of the pier (constructed in 1880) and dredging of the harbour basin to –7.2m OD. An underwater assessment of the proposed dredge area was carried out in June 2005. The investigation was based on a geophysical survey conducted by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd in August 2003, which identified eighteen anomalies. Within the area of the survey the seabed was found to be flat and featureless. The sediment was comprised mainly of sand and silt. No evidence of archaeological stratification, deposits or objects was recorded. Although the dive investigation was regarded as archaeologically negative, the potential for undiscovered buried archaeological material was highlighted.
Dredging operations commenced in February 2006 and are in progress. To date, no archaeological material has been recorded.
Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork
