Rare Shipwreck Discovery Off Wexford Coast Sheds Light on 18th Century Maritime Tragedy
General News
Sunday 4th, August 2024
A rare copper sheathed rudder, believed to be from an 18th century shipwreck, has been discovered off the coast of Wexford, near Carnsore Point. The rudder is thought to belong to the Recovery, a ship that sank in a storm in 1787 while transporting valuable Italian artworks and other cultural treasures to Dublin.
The Recovery was en route to deliver these artefacts, which were purchased in Italy by the Earl of Charlemont for the newly constructed Custom House in Dublin. Tragically, the ship foundered approximately 14 kilometres off Carnsore Point, resulting in the loss of six lives. The cargo, including the artworks, was uninsured at the time of the sinking.
The discovery was made by diver Edmond O’Byrne, who located the rudder following a series of multi-beam surveys conducted by the State research vessel RV Keary. O’Byrne confirmed the site of the shipwreck after studying the survey data.
The find has drawn attention from experts in international maritime museums, who are being consulted to assess the rarity of the discovery. The copper sheathed rudder is particularly significant, as this method of protecting timber ships from shipworms, such as Teredo navalis, was developed by the British Navy during the period.
Joe Varley, President of the Maritime Institute of Ireland, described the copper coated rudder as "very significant" and has expressed support for further investigation into the area where the ship’s hull may lie. Varley and the divers involved have called for the artefact to be raised for further study.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the discovery, the National Monuments Service (NMS) has stated that it currently has "no plans to recover the archaeological object", citing "preservation in situ" as the best principle for now. However, the NMS has indicated that it will "continue to review the situation" and that the "identity of the shipwreck has yet to be confirmed".
The sinking of the Recovery was a notable event in its time, reported in The Freeman’s Journal and documented by Lloyd’s of London. Among the cargo was a collection of "rich and rare curiosities of art and nature collected in Europe" by the banker John La Touche Esquire, alongside the Italian artworks intended for the Custom House.
The Recovery was en route to deliver these artefacts, which were purchased in Italy by the Earl of Charlemont for the newly constructed Custom House in Dublin. Tragically, the ship foundered approximately 14 kilometres off Carnsore Point, resulting in the loss of six lives. The cargo, including the artworks, was uninsured at the time of the sinking.
The discovery was made by diver Edmond O’Byrne, who located the rudder following a series of multi-beam surveys conducted by the State research vessel RV Keary. O’Byrne confirmed the site of the shipwreck after studying the survey data.
The find has drawn attention from experts in international maritime museums, who are being consulted to assess the rarity of the discovery. The copper sheathed rudder is particularly significant, as this method of protecting timber ships from shipworms, such as Teredo navalis, was developed by the British Navy during the period.
Joe Varley, President of the Maritime Institute of Ireland, described the copper coated rudder as "very significant" and has expressed support for further investigation into the area where the ship’s hull may lie. Varley and the divers involved have called for the artefact to be raised for further study.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the discovery, the National Monuments Service (NMS) has stated that it currently has "no plans to recover the archaeological object", citing "preservation in situ" as the best principle for now. However, the NMS has indicated that it will "continue to review the situation" and that the "identity of the shipwreck has yet to be confirmed".
The sinking of the Recovery was a notable event in its time, reported in The Freeman’s Journal and documented by Lloyd’s of London. Among the cargo was a collection of "rich and rare curiosities of art and nature collected in Europe" by the banker John La Touche Esquire, alongside the Italian artworks intended for the Custom House.
