2022:914 - West Pier, Historic Harbour, Shannon Foynes Port, Limerick

Pre-construction archaeological survey and detailed recording were completed as part of the Shannon Foynes Capacity Extension and Harbour Development (SFCHD) Project. The jetty extension works include: (1). the removal and relocation of the existing small-craft landing pontoon to an area identified on the west side of the existing West Pier, historic structure NIAH 21829004; and (2). construction of an open pile jetty structure, with suspended concrete deck, between the west terminus of the East Jetty and the east terminus of West Quay, tying into same.

The SFCHD Project was subject to an Environment Impact Assessment with ADCO undertaking Archaeological Impact Assessment and subsequent EIAR contribution (Cultural Heritage Chapter).  In fulfilment of the recommendations, as outlined in the UAIA/EIAR, the following archaeological mitigation was undertaken:

• Pre-disturbance survey of a 100m section of nineteenth-century quay-wall (West Pier) from the historic harbour at Foynes (NIAH 21829004) to provide a permanent, metrically accurate, record of the structure.
• Archaeological inspection of foreshore (on suitable Low Water) to assess the current archaeological potential of the intertidal foreshore within the historic harbour and the East Jetty/West Quay construction area, subsequent to the primary surveys carried out by ADCO in 2017.

The opportunity to re-inspect the area of intertidal foreshore, located behind Berth 5, was also completed as part of the current scope of work, the area being first surveyed in 2010 and later re-inspected in 2017.

The above archaeological work was conducted under licence numbers 22D0023 and 22R0088.