Company profile

The Archaeological Diving Company Ltd. (ADCO) offers a professional archaeological service in lake, river, intertidal, and marine archaeology. The company was founded in 1999 as a specialist company associated with Valerie J Keeley Ltd, Archaeological Consultancy. The parent company has been in existence since 1985 and is one of Ireland's leading archaeological consultancies with an extensive portfolio of clients that ranges from private developers to county councils and state bodies.

The company employs a fulltime staff that includes a core team of HSE-certified maritime archaeologists to undertake a range of different projects simultaneously.

All work accords with Health and Safety regulations to ensure a safe working environment, and the company is fully insured for its operations. Dive-work is carried out in compliance with Regulation 6 of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, as set out in the Approved Code of Practice for Scientific and Archaeological Diving Projects. 

The work also complies with STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS: S.I. No. 481 of 2001: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, 2001, and Safety in Industry (Diving Operations) Regulations, 1981: SI 422 of 1981; 2010 SI (Draft), HSA Diving Standards 2010; Code of Practice for inland/inshore diving (Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Diving at Work) regulations 2008)_DRAFT; Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (UK), ACOP Commercial diving projects inland/inshore, and Scientific and archaeological diving project.

• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Intertidal Survey
• Geophysical Data Interpretation
• Monitoring
• Underwater Excavation
• Post-excavation analysis and reporting

ADCO specializes in work that is related to riverbeds and the coastal zone. The range of projects includes motorway and bridge schemes, drainage and flood alleviation schemes, marine development, pipeline and dredging projects nationwide. ADCO is also in a position to offer professional advice in the area of Maritime Heritage Management.

Core Staff

Company Directors

Valerie Keeley, MA MIAI
Dr. Niall Brady, FSA

Dive Personnel

Dr. Niall Brady, Licence-eligible archaeologist, HSE Part III
Brian MacAllister, Diving Supervisor, HSE Part II
Rex Bangerter MA, Licence-eligible archaeologist , HSE Part III, Banksman/Slinger
Jimmy Lenehan, Archaeological Assistant, NCVA Part III

Topographic /GIS Surveyor /Draughtsperson

Oscar Ryan

All personnel are Safe-Pass certified.