Drogheda Boat Find

The County Louth town of Drogheda has made a few finds in its day and perhaps has been catapulted into the media for reasons it would rather not have such as arms finds during the North's long running conflict.

Arms find near Drogheda in 1980

But in recent days there has been a find in a different field. The Boyne River has yielded from within its banks a boat. described by the Irish Times as an 'ancient log-boat, possibly thousands of years old.'


The Boyne has had a turbulent past with great great symbolic and historical significance invested in the river.

Sean Corcoran, chairperson of the Old Drogheda Society told Lensmen that the amount of stuff recovered form the river over the last few years has been phenomenal:

it also compliments what we are doing in the Old Drogheda Society, where in the course of our work we often draw attention to the importance of the river. It has great historical value and this find is most welcome.

The boat was discovered by a crew from the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service who were routinely clearing the river of the shopping trolleys that frequently end up there. as they were carrying out one of their regular operations to remove shopping trolleys from the Boyne.

The vessel is expected to be properly dated later this year once more detailed tests have been carried out on it.

Purchase framed photographs @ Irish Photo Archive