On Rosslare Strand in Ireland, a series of groynes transects the beach to prevent loss of sediments from the shore. Most of these sea defence groynes are constructed as a row of wooden posts embedded deep in the sand. Over time, the posts have been weathered and whittled down to varying degrees, dependent on their position and exposure to wave action. Some rows still stand knee-high, festooned with seaweed and fishing lines, but others have been worn down to mere stumps. The eroding posts reveal intricate wood-grain patterns, and have sometimes become narrow and tapered with wear, thus opening up gaps in the line that become traps for wave-driven pebbles.
Jessica's Nature Blog 
Oh wow, what lovely natural works of art!! : ) Love this!
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They were fascinating. One of the interesting things about them was the way they collected the pebbles – and the pebbles represented a great range of different rock types from many time periods derived from this important junction in the geological landscape. The pebbles in the groynes are protected and their removal is not allowed, presumably because they perform a vital role in filling the gaps between the posts and therefore help maintain the functionality of the groynes.
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Like totem poles.
Bob
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I love the weathering on grounds and, like your pictures show, the pebbles that, by random selection, fill the gaps in these structures.
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Thanks, Bob. Nature’s mini totems.
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Thanks, Dodgysurfer. It’s great when you manage to spot something like this, intriguing and pleasing to the eye – accidental art.
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Absolutely love these Jessica. Definitely want to get down there sometime.
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Lovely photos, what a wonderful place.
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Thank you. It was a lovely beach not far from the ferry terminal for boats from Fishguard.
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Thank you, PM. It was a very interesting feature on a lovely beach.
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Those are extraordinary photos – I was waiting until I read the part saying “this is the work of local artist X”. I didn’t, and I’m so relieved it wasn’t! RH
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They are an odd phenomenon, aren’t they? Although some part of these breakwaters or groynes may normally be visible, especially the taller wooden posts, I think that a reduction in beach sediments may have exposed more of them to light following last winter storms. The photographs were taken in early April last year.
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I know this is way way later now, but with the series of storms we’ve had lately, a few of those groynes are exposed all the way to the end (start?) sand dune section of the beach!
I was looking online to try and figure out what kind of rock with fossils I found on Rosslare beach today 🙂 Based on other posts on your blog, I believe they are coral! so thank you 😀
Happy New Year!
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The wooden posts of the breakwaters at Rosslare are certainly very interesting and I would love to go back there to photograph them again some time. They must look quite different now from what you are saying. I am glad that you were able to find some information in my blog to help you identify the fossils. There are quite a few different pebbles types on the beach at Rosslare because the geology of the area is so complex.
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