Midden in Sligo Bay

Located in Sligo Bay, at the N tip of a small, oblong island (25m N–S; 8m E–W; H c. 2m). Coney Island is located 400m to NW, and the nearest point on the mainland is the Killaspugbrone peninsula 700m to SW. The island is accessible at low tide across the sand flats from Coney Island, and from the mainland along the traditional route of the Coney Island causeway which begins in Scardan More townland 1.8km to SE. The island is named ‘Doonanpatrick’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It is listed as a possible crannog in the RMP (1995) but an inspection in 2000 determined that it is a natural island. There is dense grass cover on the top surface of the island, but the relatively vertical sides are partly denuded of grass and are subjected to erosion by wind and wave. The island is surrounded by a spread (Wth 15m) of stones which overlie the sand flats. On the 1838 OS 6-inch map the island is depicted as much larger feature (c. 50m N-S; c. 30m E-W). The spread of stones may preserve the footprint of its original size, and serves as an indicator of the degree to which the island has been subjected to on-going erosion. This midden is exposed in section at the N end of the island, at a height of 1.1m above the shoreline. It is evident as a densely packed layer (L 1.5m E–W; T 0.1-0.2m) of oyster shells, with moderate inclusion of periwinkles. It is located at the interface between an overlying layer of pale grey sand and underlying boulder clay. The original extent of the midden is unclear; a portion (L c. 1m) towards the W of its current extent appears to have been eroded out relatively recently. This is one of three discrete midden deposits on the island; remnants of another midden (MA014-004001-) are visible at the SW end of the island, and there is a possible midden (MA014-004002-) on the W side. Given the small size of the island, it is possible that all three deposits are part of a single large midden. However, this oyster-rich layer (SL014-004----), appears to differ in composition from the midden material (SL014-004001-) exposed on the SW end of the island. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Revised upload: 14 February 2017