Log boat maybe thousands of years old

An ancient log boat, possibly thousands of years old, has been discovered partly embedded in the banks of the Boyne river in Drogheda, possibly where it originally sank and indicating that Drogheda could have other hidden treasures.

An initial examination by specialist archaeologist Karl Brady suggests the find could be unique because, unlike other dug-outs or log boats found in the Republic, it has a pair of oval-shaped blisters on the upper edge.

Such features “are very rare. I have seen them on some boats found in Northern Ireland and Britain but not in Ireland. They could have been used for holding oars,” said Mr Brady, who is an underwater archaeologist with the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht.