Efforts under way to preserve 1796 Bantry Bay wreck

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — A unique project to preserve the most important wreck discovered from the ill-fated 1796 French expedition to support the United Irishman is underway in Bantry Bay in County Cork. Extensive surveys are being coordinated by Duchas, the heritage service.

The remains of a 140-foot frigate La Surveillante was only discovered off Whiddy Island during clearance work in the 1970s, following the explosion that destroyed the French oil tanker Betelgeuse and killed 50 people.

The frigate was part of a 44-ship armada invasion that never was.