Quay in Clonmacnoise

In the 1992 excavations of the new graveyard at Clonmacnoise Heather King opened cutting 4 (dims. 17m x 5m) which was located to the N of cutting 2 and cutting 5 (dims. 4.5m x 2m) to the N of the grave in which the ogham stone (OF005-027004-) was found. To the N of the round house (OF005-027007-) the excavator uncovered the remains of a cobbled surface (dims. 7m x 4m), the W edge of this surface dipped sharply into a depression or gully of wet sand in which there were ten post pits which would have held timbers of c. 0.06 - 0.15m diameter. The largest post hole retained a waterlogged section of post identified as being of oak. This area may represent a cobbled slip and a place wheere small boats could be tied up. It was noticeable that an early Autumn flood in 1992 the Shannon rose high enough to be almost at the same level as the base of the postholes in the depression or narrow inlet. It would appear that this feature fell out of use due to a rise in water level which left a deposit of peat over the W edge of the cobbles. (King, H. 1992, 'Preliminary report on the 1992 excavations in the New Graveyard at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly') Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 23 May 2011