For anyone able to make the trip, I would highly recommend making the trip to Annagassan for a lecture tomorrow by Eamonn Kelly of the National Museum of Ireland on the recently discovered longphort. I saw him talk about the site before Christmas and it is truly astounding, especially in the context of other longphort sites known around the country. Full details are after the break and you can add the event to your calendar by clicking the button below. Apparently a website on the site will also be launched tomorrow which I look forward to seeing. In the meantime there are a few sneak peak photos of the excavation above to whet your appetite. Many thanks to Brian Walsh of the Dundalk Museum for providing the photos!  UPDATE: The website has launched and is available at www.linnduachaill.ie
1 Comment The Tales of Medieval Dublin lecture series continues next Tuesday in the Wood Quay offices of Dublin City Council. I haven't managed to get to any which is why I was delighted to find that the lectures are being published online. The next event is 'The Wife's Tale' and is given by Dr. Gillian Kenny, an expert on medieval women. Click the button below to add it to your Google Calendar.  Excavations in Belderrig, Co. Mayo in 2008 The Royal Irish Academy is holding a one day seminar on Friday 8th October called Revealing the Past: Archaeological Excavations in Ireland. It will showcase some of the excavations they have funded in recent years through their archaeology grants scheme, for a long time the only scheme available in Ireland to fund research excavations. I thought I'd plug it seeing as how I worked as both a student and a supervisor on two of the digs that will be featured: Templeteenaun, Co. Wicklow and Belderrig, Co. Mayo. Holding the event on a Friday makes it a little difficult for most people to get to but if you're lucky (or unlucky) enough to have nothing else on, it is free. You can book tickets here and view the full programme here.  Readers might be interested in DIG, an exhibition showing photos and drawings from archaeological excavations in Smithfield, Dublin. Its showing at The Complex, 18-21 Smithfield Square. Its an interesting idea and I'll definitely be popping in. I might include it in my Culture Night itinerary when the exhibition stays open until 10pm. The Mícheál Ó'Cléirigh Institute in UCD has announced its line up of seminars and conference for the coming semester. Some of the archaeology talks sound particularly interesting including one on the Staffordshire Hoard and an update on recent work at the Irish royal sites of Cruachain and Uisneach. I should also highlight a talk by a colleague of mine in UCD School of Archaeology Madeline Parker-Shannon who's research takes a very interesting perspective on early modern cooking. These sorts of lectures are generally attended by a small clique of students and academics but they are open to all and I'd recommend anyone with an interest (and time off work) in any of the topics to go see a (hopefully) fascinating talk for free! You don't have to ask questions unless you want to. All of the talks have been added to the events calendar which you can view online or add to your own electronic calendar. Reach the Future through the Past 30/07/2010
I'm presenting at a very interesting and unique conference next month in Dundalk. Its not your average archaeology conference, in fact I'm probably the only archaeologist speaking at it but it will be exploring some interesting ideas about approaching the future through the lens of the past. See below for the official blurb.  Future Trk crosses Past St The County Museum, Dundalk, is hosting a one-day conference, Reach the Future through the Past, on Wednesday 25 August 2010. The conference will explore the use of innovation in a heritage setting, and will examine new ways of promoting concepts of heritage and identity through the use of new technologies. The conference title is inspired by a line in Paul Brady’s The Island, and the purpose of the conference is to apply new ways of cultural and commercial thinking to Irish identity and to the historic Irish experience. Conference organiser, Brian Walsh: “Last year, the Global Irish Conference held at Farmleigh attracted representatives of the Irish diaspora and the CEOs of several multinational companies. One of the remarkable features of the conference was that the large number of CEOs who chose to attend the cultural – rather than the business - workshops. This is what gave me the idea that we should explore this theme further. The purpose of our conference here in Dundalk is to find ways of seeking inspiration from the past, and to find new ways of applying and presenting this.” One of the main themes of the day will be how to innovatively promote and popularize history, identity, archaeology and culture to wider audiences. The international panel of speakers is drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds: academia, archaeology, animation, broadcasting and business. Speakers include Mary Hawkes-Green (founder, Burren College Art and Design); Brian Dolan (founder, seandalaiocht.com); Ciaran McGuinness (Archer Heritage Planning); Paul Young (co-founder Cartoon Saloon and producer of The Secret of Kells); and Yanky Fachler (historian, business trainer, and author of 6 Officers, 2 Lions, and 750 Mules). Admission to the conference is free, but prior booking is essential. For all enquiries, please contact Brian Walsh at the County Museum, Dundalk,+353 42-9327056, Brian.Walsh@dundalktown.ie. Two New Dig Blogs From County Meath 12/07/2010
View Archaeology Digs 2010 in a larger map I'd like to draw people's attention to the blogs of two ongoing excavations from county Meath. One, taking place at Bective abbey is in its second year of blogging (it was featured in the Irish Times last year) , and the other, based on an excavation in Rossnaree in the Boyne Valley has only been online a matter of weeks. You can follow the, generally daily, updates for a fascinating insight into two ongoing research excavations. Sure you could even visit if you manage to drag yourself away from the internet for a few hours.. Louth Museum Webcast 26/04/2010
 The County Museum Dundalk, Co. Louth which has been mentioned on this blog before, is undertaking a series of streaming webcasts to a school in the US. the idea is to bring local studies to a wider audience.
Its a great idea and will hopefully get a big listenership. The first broadcast was this afternoon (apologies for getting the post up a bit late) although I had difficulties logging onto it. I'll try again next time. For more info and a schedule of upcoming webcasts click "Read More" below Update: There were technical difficulties with the webcast today but a podcast will be posted tomorrow. Above is a google calendar very similar to my own events calendar which I've blogged about previously, but this one lists archaeological events in the UK. A very nice compliment to my own. There is plenty on the calendar that would be of interest to Irish and other archaeologists. The calendar was created by Win Scutt and can be accessed here. I met Win years ago when I was an undergraduate digging on Dartmoor with the Shovel Down project. Back then he drove a restored but battered old Land Rover with no roof which saved me walking to the pub quite a few times! I have embedded his calendar on the events page with appropriate links and instructions on how to add it to your own. I've posted previously about the events page on the blog where you can find a calendar of archaeology related events going on in Ireland. To highlight the calendar and how useful it can be I've decided to try out a weekly post listing the events for that week.
You can add the calendar to your calendar application or your Google Calendar by using the links on the events page. EDIT 20/04/10 : An additional event has been added | What?A site about Irish archaeology: conferences; links; opinions; news; information and the internet.      Click here for events calendar
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