Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland

• The Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) is engaged in the preparation of an inventory of recorded shipwrecks in Irish waters. The Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland includes all known wrecks for the years up to and including 1945 and approximately 10,000 records have been compiled and integrated into the shipwreck database thus far.
• The Shipwreck Inventory is principally a desktop survey with information gathered from a broad range of cartographic, archaeological and historical sources, both documentary and pictorial. An inventory of wrecks covering the coastal waters off counties Louth, Meath, Dublin and Wicklow is due for publication shortly and it is intended to make it available through this site.
• The Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland archive is currently available for consultation by prior arrangement in the offices of the Archive Unit of the Department in 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2.

Underwater and Marine Archaeology

• Ireland has a rich underwater material cultural heritage which includes such well known discoveries as the Spanish Armada shipwrecks dating from 1588 off the north and west coasts and the 1796 French Armada shipwreck in Bantry Bay. Other recent finds have included an early medieval bridge at the great monastery of Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly as well as fragments of books, shrines and crosses from midland lakes.
• An Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) was established within the National Monuments Service to quantify the underwater resource, undertake survey and enforcement and to assess development impacts in order to manage this aspect of Ireland's heritage.
• Over 1000 referrals are dealt with annually by the UAU in relation to planning and development impacts and new discoveries are being made as a result of recommendations made in this regard. For example
  • A 17th Century wreck was discovered in Waterford Harbour as a result of archaeological monitoring of maintenance dredging
  • Another wreck of at least 17th Century date was found as a result of archaeological monitoring of dredging in Kinsale, Co. Cork
  • a seagoing dugout boat was found as a result of archaeological monitoring on a gas pipeline near Gormanstown in Co. Meath
  • numerous medieval ships timbers and a medieval shipwreck were found during the course of the archaeological monitoring of the new sewage pipeline across Dublin Bay.
• Wrecks over 100 years old and archaeological objects found underwater are protected under the National Monuments (Amendment) Acts 1987 and 1994. Significant wrecks less than 100 years old can be designated by Underwater Heritage Order on account of their historical, archaeological or artistic importance as is the case with the wreck of the Co. Cork RMS Lusitania located off Kinsale Head. Underwater Heritage Orders can also be used to designate areas of seabed or land covered by water to more clearly define and protect wreck sites and archaeological objects.
• Under the legislation all diving on known protected wreck sites or with the intention of searching for archaeological underwater material is subject to licensing requirements.