Bord Gais has published a calendar highlighting some of the significant archaeological discoveries made during construction of the pipeline carrying natural gas to Galway and Limerick.
The 318km pipeline from Scotland comes ashore at Gormanston in Co Meath, where one of the most interesting finds was made last summer, a prehistoric dug-out canoe which had become buried in the seabed.
The canoe, made from a single tree trunk, could date from 3000BC. While a small number of other canoes have been found in lakes, this was the first to be found on the seabed.
A number of important discoveries were made in Co Westmeath, including the remains of prehistoric iron-ore extraction and smelting on two adjacent sites as well as enclosed burial sites revealing signs of human habitation over hundreds if not thousands of years, including the Bronze Age period.
Excavations at an early medieval cemetery discovered close to the trench at Augherskea, Co Meath, uncovered a beautiful blue lignite bracelet; many pieces of jewellery and pottery have been found along the route.
The remains of a pre-Famine village were found in Co Clare, and medieval settlements were found in Meath and Dublin. A number of fulacht fiadh (ancient cooking sites) were uncovered along the length of the pipeline.
In all, 300 sites dating from the Late Neolithic period (4000-2400BC) to the 19th century have been identified, and up to 100 archaeologists have been working on the finds.
A spokeswoman for Bord Gais said: "Ever since gas first came ashore from the Kinsale field, Bord Gais has had a special relationship with archaeology. As part of the Environmental Impact Studies, archaeological experts evaluated the impact of all projects on the archaeological environment along each proposed pipeline route."
The pipeline is part of an infrastructure programme costing €1.4 billion.
The archaeology project manager, Ms Margaret Gowen, praised the partnership approach taken by the company and the archaeologists. "This was a construction project where there was a real focus on avoidance. Route-selection is sophisticated and avoids monuments and high-status archaeology. Bord Gais also facilitated our work and we, in turn, facilitated them," she said.
The calendar was launched by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, at the National Museum in Dublin, where the most significant artefacts will be put on display.