Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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616. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the 12-foot medieval longboat discovered on the bed of the River Boyne, Drogheda in July 2007 and taken for preservation and conservation by the Department of the Environment at that time; the present location and state of preservation of the boat; if the condition of the boat is now in a state of preservation suitable for public display in a suitably controlled environment in Drogheda in view of its unique and special national and international significance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45233/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Drogheda Boat wreck was discovered during the course of dredging works by the Port of Drogheda and the National Monuments Service (NMS) of my Department carried out a full excavation in 2007. The archaeological project was a collaborative one between NMS, the National Museum of Ireland and the Port of Drogheda. The remains are of a 16th-century clinker built coastal trader, almost fully intact. During the course of the excavation it was also discovered that the wreck contained a cargo of 13 barrels, still in the hold. The entire wreck and its barrels were fully excavated and recovered.

Post-excavation was undertaken by the NMS on the wreck remains along with specialist analysis of various elements of the wreck. This included the barrel material, evidence from which showed that the barrels contained salted fish when the boat sank but that originally they had been used to import wine from France. On completion of the post-excavation analysis, the wreck and barrel remains were transferred to the National Museum of Ireland, where they remain undergoing conservation.

The National Museum is responsible for the on-going conservation of the wreck and for any plans in relation to its presentation.