A New Depositional Model for Glacial Sediments in Killiney Bay During the Late Devensian Deglaciation – East Central Ireland

During the last glaciation in northwestern Europe, major studies are consistent with the hypothesis of an ice-stream flowing southward in the Irish Sea Basin, in connection with tributary flows on the eastern part of the Irish Cap (Evans and Cofaigh, 2003; Eyles and McCabe, 1989). During the maximum extent, the ice front reached a position located off the coast of Wales at ca. 22ka BP (Lambeck, 1996; Thomas and Chiverrell, 2007). During deglaciation, sediment deposition processes are predominant, leaving a record of glacially influenced environments. Evidence of such deposits still remains on the coast of the UK and Ireland today. Although these deposits have been studied for many decades, their depositional environment is still under debate and interpretations are evolving, together with new concepts.