Slipway

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the NE shore of Rindown peninsula, and on the NW shore and inner edge of Safe Harbour, a subrectangular bay (dims c. 150m NE-SW; c 80m NW-SE at SW to c. 180m at NE) open to the NE. Ships are frequently mentioned in relation to Rindown, and there are references to a ferry connecting the town with Co. Westmeath in 1302-03 and 1315-16. There is a slipway on the NW shore of Safe Harbour that may show evidence of two periods of construction necessitated by a sudden drop in the level of the lake.
A slipway is visible as a grass-covered raised stoney surface (Wth 4.2m; H 0.2m at NE to 0.9m at SW) aligned NW-SE and sloping down to the harbour (L 39m) where it extends into the water with kerbstones (dims c. 0.8m x c. 0.6m) at either edge. The SW edge is overlain by the remnants of a drystone wall and immediately to the SW is a trench (Wth 4.2m; L 27.7m NW-SE) bordered by kerbstone boulders on the SW. The trench could serve as a naust where the prows of boats could be docked. Subsequently a second slipway (Wth 3m; L 8m NW-SE) was placed immediately to the SW of the original slipway at a lower level, which does not extend as far inland. It is at the water’s edge and blocks off the docking space associated with the longer slipway. This lower slipway is provided with a second slipway (Wth 2-2.8m; L c. 8m) 3.4m to the SW, creating a new docking space at a lower level in the water. These lower slipways are now almost entirely under the normal level of the lake.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revised upload: 15 September, 2015