It’s an unexpected discovery for the small village of Portmarnock in County Dublin: last July, drone operator Nigel Motyer detected the presence of outcropping remains in the sand on the local beach. Very quickly, 3 separate wrecks were uncovered, and the dating was formal: they were indeed shipwrecks dating back to the 19th century. A remarkable discovery, which still raises many questions today!
Since July, the investigation has continued: the National Monuments Service (NMS) has mobilized local archaeologists to find out more about the origin and history of these mysterious boats.
For the moment, one thing is certain: these boats, once invisible, have been naturally revealed by the movement of the sea sand.
One of the three vessels had already been discovered in 2017, before being hidden again by the sand. The other two wrecks had never been seen before.
They lie a few metres off Portmarnock beach, less than a metre deep.
In a sorry state of repair, they have unfortunately been subjected to the natural corrosion of the Irish Sea, as well as the damage caused by sand drift. A condition that makes identification work all the more difficult!
The newly-discovered wrecks are poorly preserved due to continuous tidal and storm action over the years. In general, while only the lower portions of the hulls and bow areas has survived, our team has identified timber frames, planking, metal knees, and even a metal winch/windlass system at the bow of one of the boats. said arl Brady, archaeologist in charge of studying the wrecks.
Nevertheless, the team is adamant that they are all 19th-century wrecks. However, no light has yet been shed on why they sank in the first place.
In any case, these 3 boats are now protected and considered national monuments. A security perimeter prevents the general public from approaching them, out of concern for the preservation of the remains.
As a reminder, it is estimated that Ireland has no fewer than 18,000 shipwrecks off its coast. Each year, these mysterious ships attract divers and researchers in search of historical truth!
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