A Neolithic era boat discovered in Barna (Bearna) County Galway goes on public display.
The 5,000 year old boat was discovered on a beach near Bearna following storms in 2002 by Brian and Ronán Ó Carra.
For the past four years the boat has been held in secure storage at Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill while staff from the National Museum of Ireland conducted tests to verify its authenticity. As this process is now complete, the vessel can be exhibited to the public.
The good condition of this stone age canoe is down to the thousands of years it was surrounded by peat.
Brendan Smith from Galway Atlantaquaria explains, the geography of the area was quite different from today, and this boat would have been used by people for travel and fishing in a freshwater lake.
Local schoolchildren have been learning about how their ancient ancestors lived. Pupils from Scoil San Phroinsias in Galway city made a replica boat under the supervision of aquarist Eimear O'Kane.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 March 2006. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
