Archaeologists to examine Youghal Beach ahead of Celtic Interconnector Project

A minor archaeological investigation is to be undertaken next week to investigate fossilised trees under Claycastle Beach in Youghal.

Electricity grid operator EirGrid has planned the inspection to explore the extent of remains of the petrified forest over four days from March 11 until March 14, to inform a further archaeological excavation currently planned for later this year.

The works are associated with the development of the Celtic Interconnector Project, the subsea interconnector linking Ireland and France which will allow the exchange of electricity between the two countries.

The connection will link the existing electricity substation located in Knockraha in East Cork to the substation at La Martyre in France. The examination will be overseen by archaeologists from the Underwater Archaeology Unit and the National Monuments Service, and will consist of a test pit on the beach.

The archaeological team will be using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to carefully excavate and analyse the site ahead of further investigations required in the autumn.

Michael Mahon, EirGrid’s chief infrastructure officer, explained that their team do not disrupt any important heritage.

“At EirGrid, we are committed to ensuring construction works are carried out with the utmost sensitivity to the surrounding landscape and that is why we, working with our contractors, have enlisted the expertise of an archaeological team to investigate the area of beach through which the cable may pass,” he said.

“With remains of a petrified forest known to be under the sands at Claycastle Beach, it’s important that we progress with care.”

“By understanding any archaeological make-up of the site, we can ensure that the development of the electricity cable proceeds in a way that respects and preserves local heritage.”

The Celtic Interconnector project works and commissioning phase is under way and scheduled to complete in 2026, and the subsea cable will not be visible at the landfall point at Claycastle Beach when the works are done.

The underground cable will connect to the subsea cable by way of an underground transition joint and the underground landfall point will be fully reinstated.

The Celtic Interconnector cable will enable the exchange of 700MW of electricity between Ireland and France across a distance of 575km, with the capacity to supply electricity to 450,000 homes.