Hopefully a few of the blog's readers have noticed the little 'events' section on this site. This contains a calendar (also above) of archaeology lectures, conferences and other events that I keep regularly updated. It can be perused online, integrated into your own google calendar (by clicking on the plus symbol at the bottom of the calendar above), subscribed to as an XML feed or imported into many calendar applications using ICAL.

2009 was a busy year, particularly November when there were multiple lectures on every week and a number of conferences too. The 2010 calendar is looking fairly bare in comparison (so far) although some upcoming high-lights that I will be attending include the EMASS conference in UCD and the AYIA conference in UCC.

Unfortunately, while I get news about most archaeology-related stuff straight to my inbox quite a few still slip through or I hear about them very late. So, with that in mind I would love to hear from anyone who is organising an event for 2010 and is looking to advertise the fact.

Cairn T at Loughcrew passage tomb cemetery is aligned on the Autumn and Spring equinoxes, one of which falls on Tuesday 20th. On that day and those around it the sun shines down the passage and illuminates the back recess and the stunning megalithic art that decorates it.

O.P.W. staff are in attendance at the cairn today (from 7.15 - 8.30 am), tomorrow and Tuesday; so this morning I dragged myself out of bed at 5.30 a.m. and made the trip. We arrived about 7.30, fifteen minutes after sunrise but didn't get into the chamber for another half hour. I can't say it wasn't worth the wait though and with the absoloutely perfectly clear sky we got a spectacular experience. Check out some pics above and a time-lapse video of a previous equinox below.

The Ordnance survey of Ireland, an institution much-loved, and much mis-spelled, by Irish archaeologists is opening a new visitor centre in the Phoenix Park in September, coinciding with celebrations of its 185th anniversary.

Ordinarily the centre will only be open via prior group appointment but guided tours will be open to all on Sept2nd-4th and 6th. See the OSI website for more info.

The Fingal Heritage Network and the Mayor of Fingal are launching a book and an exhibition on the evening of Tuesday 7th July 2009 at 7.30pm. The book is entitled Axes, Warriors and Windmills: Recent Archaeological Discoveries in North Fingal. It was recently reviewed in Archaeology Ireland and includes papers on Lambay Island, Flemington, Bearnageeragh, Lusk, Mount Gamble and Bremore Castle. I haven't got a hold of a copy yet myself but it promises to be a useful volume.

The same evening sees the launch of a photographic exhibition called Fingal: A Photographic Memoir. RSVP 890 5771 or by email.

The Northern Ireland Archaeology Forum has organised a series of archaeology days beginning in June and continuing throughout the summer. This is a realtively new organisation that I only just heard about but they have organised a really excellent range of activities and events for the public that will be of interest to many. We might ask where are the equivalent events in the South?

Download the Archaeology Days brochure here and more information about the Northern Ireland Archaeology Forum here.