What is recorded here

Indicated is a seaweed-covered stone breakwater in Blackball Harbour on the Beara Peninsula, still guiding local fishermen into calm water through its southern gap. Local tradition attributes its building to Vikings, yet storms have probably widened and lowered the ancient bar until it sits half-submerged beneath the Atlantic.

In Blackball Harbour, just N of Blackball Head on the Beara Peninsula. This breakwater extends from the N shore of the harbour and consists of a bar of seaweed-covered stones (L c. 130m N-S; Wth c. 40m E-W). A variety of both large and small stones are included in the construction. At the S extremity of the bar there is a break through which boats can safely enter the calm sheltered waters to the E. To the S of the entrance a further section of the breakwater (L c. 40m) continues as far as the S shore of the harbour. The breakwater is well exposed at low tide and covered at high water mark. It is likely that the breakwater was once narrower and much higher giving better protection to the sandy-bottomed anchorage area to the E. Over time storms from the SW have probably pushed the top of the breakwater to the E, thus lowering and widening the bar. According to local tradition, the breakwater was erected by the Vikings to provide a safe anchorage on the SW coast. This sheltered anchorage is still used by local fishermen. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

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