2009:652 - MORNINGTON RIVER, Mornington, Meath

Monitoring commenced in June 2009 on the construction of flood defences in the form of embankments and flood walls on the banks of the Mornington River at Mornington, Co. Meath. The river, which is tidal, also goes by an Irish name, the Owenwarra, and is familiarly known as The Gut. The works are being undertaken by the Office of Public Works as the Mornington River (Mornington) certified drainage scheme. Construction will take place over an estimated two-year period. The development is situated entirely within the townland of Mornington, lying in the angle of the south bank of the River Boyne and the Irish Sea coast. The length of river involved in the drainage scheme is c. 2.5km, running from a point close to the centre of Bettystown village northwards to the River Boyne at the South Crook.

Situated within 100m of the Mornington River are two ring-ditches (ME021–025 and ME021–026) in Donacarney Great and the 16th-century Maiden Tower (ME021–004) and Lady’s Finger (ME021–003) in Mornington, the latter two being navigational aids at the mouth of the Boyne.

Monitoring was carried out during topsoil removal for flood bank and flood wall construction and for the preparation of working areas. The project to the end of 2009 was confined mainly to the lower reaches of the river. Topsoil was removed in a 6–7mwide strip in sections of varying length. This generally exposed natural grey sand or, where the river has been canalised, dumped fill of 20th-century date. Monitoring will continue in 2010.