Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Archaeological Sites in County Kerry, Ireland

• 1. Case Study 1 – Dunbeg Promontory Fort (An Dún Beag), County Kerry, Ireland
  • 1.1 Introduction and background
  • 1.2 Climate change impact
  • 1.3 OPW climate change risk mitigation
• 2. Case Study 2 – Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl), County Kerry, Ireland
  • 2.1 Introduction and background
  • 2.2 Climate change impact
  • 2.3 OPW climate change risk mitigation
• 3. Case Study 3 – Ballinskelligs Priory (Prioreacht Bhaile An Sceilg), County Kerry, Ireland
  • 3.1 Introduction and background
  • 3.2 Climate change impact
  • 3.3 OPW climate change risk mitigation

Figure 1: Aerial view of Dunbeg Fort (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 2: Coastal erosion at Dunbeg Fort (Image credit: The Discovery Programme)

Figure 3: Earlier image of Dunbeg Fort coastal erosion (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 4: Aerial image showing the coastal erosion in 2018 (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 5: Pathway connecting the main road to the National Monument site (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 6: Drawing of proposed fencing, subsequently installed in 2019 (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 7: New safety fencing installed in 2019 by OPW to allow safe access to the site for visitors (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 8: New safety fencing installed in 2019 by OPW to allow safe access to the site for visitors (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 9: New culvert drainage pipework (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 10: Aerial view of Skellig Michael (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 11: Aerial view of the monastery at Skellig Michael (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 12: Aerial view of the monastery at Skellig Michael (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 13: Tourists arriving at the landing pier (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 14: Monastery retaining wall in danger of collapse (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 15: Rock fall in 2017 (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 16: Rock fall in 2020 (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 17: Rescue exercise being carried out on site (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 18: Temporary crash deck installed in the location of rock falls (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 19: Temporary crash deck installed in a critical location on the Lighthouse Road (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 20: Landing pier during high sea swells (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 21: New visitors' toilets installed near the helipad in the 2021 season (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 22: Aerial view of Ballinskelligs Priory and the existing concrete sea wall (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 23: Aerial view of Ballinskelligs Priory (Image credit: DHLGH)

Figure 24: Storm damage in 2014 (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 25: Storm damage in 2014 Image credit: (OPW)

Figure 26: Erosion to existing concrete sea wall (Image credit: OPW)

Figure 27: Archive image of the former sea wall from 1932 (Image credit: OPW)

Cuppage, J. 1986 Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula, 1st edition, Dublin: Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2013 'Historic environment viewer' [online]. Archaeology.ie. [Last accessed: 10 February 2020]. http://webgis.archaeology.ie/historicenvironment/

Government of Ireland 2000 'Planning and Development Act, 2000', Irishstatutebook.ie [Last accessed: February 2020]. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2000/act/30/enacted/en/index.html

Harbison, P. 1992 Guide to National and Historic Monuments of Ireland, 3rd edition, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan Ltd.

MWP 2019 Screening for Appropriate Assessment, Repair of Sea-wall along Upper Lighthouse Road, Skellig Michael Island - Phase 3, Ireland: Malachy Walsh and Partners – Engineering and Environmental Consultants.

RTÉ 2018 'Prehistoric promontory fort in Kerry damaged in storm' [online], www.rte.ie. [Last accessed: 7 February 2020]. https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0104/931059-dunbeg-fort-kerry/

UNESCO 2020 'Sceilg Mhichíl', Whc.unesco.org. [Last accessed: 10 February 2020]. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/757/