Exploring a 17th century shipwreck in Kerry with underwater archaeologists

A 17th century wreck rose above water level in Co Kerry for the first time in nearly 50 years this autmn. Connie Kelleher, one of the State’s three underwater archaeologists, headed down immediately, says John Verling

There is freshly broken pottery lying on the wet sand. The bottom of a brandy magnum appears too, the dark glass shining in the morning sun. All part of the cargo from a 17^th century wreck being excavated by the Underwater Archaeology Unit, at the edge of where the sands meet the sea at Ballyheigue in North Kerry.  It is the last neap tide of the year, nearly midday and time is against the team doing the digging. In less than an hour the spot where we are standing will disappear until early spring.

Connie Kelleher is leading the excavation for the Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU), part of the National Monuments Service (NMS). The brief of the NMS is to advise the Minister on the management of Ireland’s built heritage and its underwater cultural resource. There are 34 archaeologists within the service but Connie is only one of the three underwater specialists. Ireland has a long maritime tradition, over 17,000 documented wrecks alone, and the three fulltime archaeologists are very busy.