Cold-water coral carbonate mounds are widespread along the Irish continental margin. Whereas the Porcupine Seabight and the Rockall Trough are relatively well studied with regard to mound topography, coral coverage, and benthic life diversity, the situation on the western Rockall Bank is rather unknown. Detailed facies and biocoenoses mapping based on video footage analyses was conducted on the newly-discovered Franken Mound. Facies were identiWed ranging between cliV-like to planar hardgrounds and soft sediments that are partly rippled. A variety of biocoenoses are associated with these facies comprising discrete live coral colonies, dense live and dead coral framework coverage, abundant to scattered coral debris, and a soft sediment faunal community, whereas the latter is three times less speciose as biocoenoses containing live frameworkbuilding corals. The facies and biocoenosis classes are supplemented by exposed dropstones, lost Wshery nets, and rubbish. The distribution of the classes clearly indicates a close relationship with local current eVects and current intensiWcation. Due to the dominance of dead coral framework and the partially exposed internal sediment sequences on the mound Xanks, it is assumed that Franken Mound is approaching the "mound retirement" mound growth state.