Pier/Jetty in Bunratty West,river Shannon

On the W bank of the Owenagarney River adjacent to Bunratty West townland. Described by O’Sullivan (2001, 300) as a possibly post-medieval ‘wooden structure in estuarine clays at saltmarsh, on west bank of the River Owenagarney near drainage sluice. Composed of five roundwood trunks (20cm in diameter) of pine, laid across a longitudinal roundwood substructure. Trunks are jointed (lap joints and mortises) and crudely cut across at ends. February 1997.' The 14th century Caithréim Toirdealbhaigh notes that Toirdelbach O Briain erected a plank bridge at Bunratty that spanned the sea-channel to the opposite shore in order to prevent ships from reaching the castle (Bradley et al. 1988, 20). The precise location of that bridge is unknown but it is possible that the wooden structure as described above by O'Sullivan c. 250m down river may be related. (O'Sullivan 2001, 300, Bunratty 12) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 21 August 2019