What is recorded here

Weir stands on the northern Shannon bank beside Bunratty West, preserving a medieval V-shaped fishtrap built from vertical posts, brushwood and wattle panels. Its long basket narrowed from eighty-eight centimetres to thirty-five centimetres, guiding silver fish into a cramped end where human hands could seize them. The hazel rods date to the late twelfth century, suggesting local people read the estuary’s tide and pressure as clearly as any modern instrument.

On the N bank of the Shannon estuary adjacent to Bunratty West townland. Described by O’Sullivan (2001, 299) as medieval ‘Post-and-wattle fences (Bunratty 6.1) and basket (Bunratty 6.2) of V-shaped fishtrap. Fence oriented N-S, 10-22m long, constructed of rows of vertical posts, laid brushwood, post-and-wattle panels and oblique braces. Basket 4.1m long, 88cm wide at mouth and 35cm at end. Hazel rod radiocarbon-dated to 820 +/- 35 BP (AD 1164-1279; GrN-21934). Excavated February 1997; revisited March 1999. Site location estimated.' (O'Sullivan 2001, 164-76, 299, Bunratty 6) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 19 August 2019

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.