County: Cork Site name: Abbey Point and Creamery Point, Bantry Bay
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: 06D066, 06R159
Author: Rex Bangerter, The Archaeological Diving Co. Ltd, Brehon House, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: Seabed/intertidal
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 566530m, N 571749m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.896892, -8.486316
Non-disturbance underwater assessment was undertaken of two proposed slipway development areas within Bantry Bay. It is proposed to construct a slipway at Abbey Point, west of Bantry Harbour, at a location known as ‘the Narrows’, a stretch of water located between the southern shoreline of the harbour and the south-eastern side of Whiddy Island. In addition, it is proposed to construct a second slipway at Creamery Point on Whiddy Island, c. 2km south-west of Abbey Point. The slipway developments will facilitate the existing RO-RO ferry service between Bantry and Whiddy Island.
CO118–029 (potential abbey site) and CO118–030(01) (burial-ground) are located in the vicinity of the Abbey Point slipway development, although both are well outside any anticipated area of impact.
Assessment was concentrated within the immediate impact areas, although a sizeable buffer zone was incorporated into the archaeological survey, extending the survey up to 30m either side of the construction footprint at each location. In addition, the intertidal element of each development was field-walked to identify impacts to any potential foreshore archaeology. No archaeologically significant materials or structures were encountered as part of the development.
