Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

Roles and potential in relation to historic buildings and industrial archaeology
Aerial archaeology is little used at present in relation to reconnaissance and conservation of the architectural heritage (G.
Browner pers. comm.). It is often used, however, in conveying very clear impressions of the built heritage for illustrative purposes
of both individual buildings and structures and townscapes (Figures 37, 38). Nevertheless, examples both within Ireland (Condit
1997) and elsewhere (Driver 2002a, b) suggest that there is further potential for development in this area.
Figure 37: The ‘Black Castle’ at Castlepoint, Co. Cork, commands the narrow bridge that links the island to the mainland (Markus Casey)
For example, the Mining Heritage Trust in Ireland is beginning to consider greater use of aerial photography as a means of helping
to interpret the relationships of buildings to other archaeological and landscape features, thereby enhancing the understanding
of the totality of industrial processes (M. Parkes pers comm.). Other respondents also commented on the potential of aerial
survey to contribute to industrial archaeology (M. Casey pers. comm.), and this is partly reflected in NMS’s aerial survey of the
Shannon navigation. In England, work by English Heritage has demonstrated the value of air photography as a contributory
means of recording very large buildings or building complexes (e.g. industrial, ecclesiastical and hospital complexes).
There is considerable low-level aerial photographic coverage of Irish towns and cities held not only by the OSi but also by the
NMS, local authorities and commercial companies like Simmons Aerofilms, BKS of Coleraine, and even small private initiatives
such as that of Joe Kenny of Fethard, Co. Tipperary. 15 These offer significant potential for studying urban topography (Swan 1983,
1985) and how urban development in the last 30 years has affected the historic structure and architecture of urban centres
(Figure 38).
15 http://fethard.com.mainpages/aerial.html
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