The first voyages between Ireland and Wales have been a subject of fascination for centuries. It is believed that the earliest movements between Ireland and Wales may date back to the Mesolithic period – roughly 10,000 years ago.

Today, the Portalis project is launching an interactive map on our platform that highlights key sites on both sides of the Irish Sea and tells us of early movements in Cardigan Bay, Wales, and Waterford Estuary in the south of Ireland.

This multidisciplinary project uses material records and environmental data to explore the early journeys and landscapes of West Wales and South East Ireland.  The project seeks to understand the changing environments available to Mesolithic people, how climate change affected their resources, and to address any parallels faced by coastal communities today.

The project has been in development for several years and is the culmination of a partnership between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the South East Technology University of Ireland, Waterford City and County Council, and Ceredigion County Council. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

In addition to the partnerships between organisations, the Portalis project team has been working closely with six coastal communities in Ireland and Wales and leading citizen science and cultural tourism workshops. The findings of their investigations will be shared publicly, via their website, their interactive map, and two exhibitions at Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum and Waterford Treasures.

This project will be of great interest to anyone interested in the history of early humanity in Ireland and Wales. We encourage you to visit the Portalis Project interactive map and explore the findings for yourself!