A medieval illustration of Christ on a donkey entering Jerusalem.
How was Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem represented on Ireland’s high crosses?
In Archaeology Ireland (Spring 2014), Mike King examines its depiction and meaning in early medieval sculpture.
reader.exacteditions.com/issues/54694...
An aerial view of excavations at Molyneux House, Dublin
How do layers of Dublin’s past survive beneath the modern city?
In Archaeology Ireland (Spring 2026), Paul Duffy, Chris Coffey and Marc Piera examine excavations at Molyneux House, revealing a complex urban sequence from medieval to modern.
The Manuscript of the Week is RIA MS 23 E 29, the Book of Fermoy. Commissioned by David Mór Roche, it includes poems and prose relating to the medieval Roche family as well as a duanaire (poembook) containing copies of poems attributed to Gearóid Iarla, 3rd earl of Desmond (1338-1398).
From the archives:
Franc Myles examines the ‘Archaeology of 1916’ project, treating North King Street as archaeological landscape within the modern city. Through fieldwork & primary sources, he reassesses the spatial dynamics & material traces of the Rising.
archaeologyireland.ie/2018/03/19/a...
From Archaeology Ireland Spring 2026:
‘All in a Day’s Work’ by Róisín Nic Cráimhín, Emma Skarstrand and Griffin Murray examines the return of Robert Day’s antiquarian collection to Ireland.
Over 100 objects, many retaining original labels!
St John’s Priory, Kilkenny—evidence of an earlier sepulchre niche. Thee photographs of the stone carvings in the priory.
What physical traces remain of late medieval devotion in Ireland?
In Archaeology Ireland (Summer 2025), Chris Corlett examines the Easter Sepulchre.
Are we looking at the remains of Fionn Mac Cumhaill—or evidence of a far deeper past?
In The Irish Independent, Lorna Siggins reports that remains from a Leitrim passage tomb date to c. 5,600 years ago.
Read more:
m.independent.ie/irish-news/n...
The court tomb at Creevykeel, in a photo taken at night
How was a Neolithic tomb constructed and used?
In Archaeology Ireland (Spring 2026), Chris Corlett examines the court tomb at Creevykeel, Co. Sligo, highlighting burial practice, monument design and stone-working techniques such as ‘dispersed picking’.
www.archaeologyireland.ie
If you're thinking about how to entertain the kids over Easter, the School of Irish Archaeology is running an Easter Archaeology camp for children (7-12) in Harold's Cross NS.
Ful details below:
sia.ie/camp/archaeo...
Where is St Patrick really buried and what is the evidence?
Read more in Archaeology Ireland (Spring 2019).
📖 bit.ly/3OQutmo
The MS of the week is RIA MS 23 P 7, the Annals of the Four Masters. Two full sets of the annals were prepared and are now divided into multi-volume sets. This volume covers the period AD 1500-1616 and is believed to be part of the Louvain set, which was made to take back to the Irish College there.
Christmas week, 1930: an excavation at Sheebeg, Co. Leitrim uncovers human remains and draws national attention.
Read the story revisited by Peter W. Halligan and Niamh Daly in the Spring 2026 issue of Archaeology Ireland.
📖 bit.ly/3OQutmo
Fresh off the press!
The Spring 2026 issue of Archaeology Ireland is rolling off the printing press and heading to readers.
Order or subscribe here:
bit.ly/3OQutmo
cover image of the spring 2026 edition of Archaeology Ireland, featuring the sun setting in the background with a grass field and hill in the foreground.
Spring 2026, Archaeology Ireland (Vol 40 No 1, Issue 155) is published on 6 March.
From revisiting the 1930 Sheebeg excavation to new insights into megalithic art & Great War training sites, this issue highlights the vitality of archaeology in Ireland today.
Available nationwide & to subscribers.
cover of the March/April 2026 issue of History Ireland magazine
In the latest issue of History Ireland, Tommy Graham reflects on the forthcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
“A republic, if you can keep it.”
Out 1 March.
www.historyireland.com
A database of Irish excavation reports can be accessed at excavations.ie. It contains summary accounts of all excavations carried out in Ireland from 1970 to 2024. From this website, researchers can note the excavation licence numbers required when requesting reports from the NMS Archive.
An aisle of the NMS Archives in Swords, Co. Dublin.
The NMS Archive Unit is pleased to announce the release of an updated Finding Aid of all licences that produced archaeological reports in their collection.
Information on how to access: www.archaeology.ie/collections-...
@araireland.bsky.social @iaiarchaeo.bsky.social @nmireland.bsky.social
cover image of Medieval Dublin, by Pat Dargan, featuring an archive image in sepia of Dublin City and the River Liffey.
We're very pleased to say that Medieval Dublin, by Pat Dargan, is out now! A richly illustrated guide to the medieval city that still shapes Dublin today.
www.wordwellbooks.com
A host of additional information about the ogam inscription I-KER-055 from Kilmalkedar at the new Ogham in 3D website (hosted by @dias.ie): ogham.celt.dias.ie/I-KER-055
In Archaeology Ireland (Summer 2015), Nora White, Gary Devlin & Fionbarr Moore explored 3D recording of ogham inscriptions.
Now you can explore the ogham stone at Kilmalkedar Church in high-resolution 3D via The Discovery Programme.
sketchfab.com/3d-models/ki...
The front of the poster describing the Buildings Archaeology Bursary Scheme 2026. It states that The National Monuments Service is delighted to invite applications for its bursary scheme for a one-year course in buildings archaeology skills at Atlantic Technological University. Is the course for me? The Certificate in Buildings Archaeology (Level 7) mixes theory and practice to introduce you to Ireland’s rich built heritage and will teach you new skills in historic building recording and conservation. It will comprise three modules (mostly taught online, two hours per week) taught over one academic year, commencing September 2026. There will be four consecutive days of in-person practicals in November 2026 at Atlantic Technological University’s Sligo campus.
The back of the poster describing the Buildings Archaeology Bursary Scheme 2026. It states: Am I eligible to apply? You must have an existing Level 6 qualification, or the equivalent in professional experience in archaeology, built heritage conservation or a related discipline. You must also be practicing in Ireland, working as a professional archaeologist or in other related disciplines (for example, architects and engineers) in the private/commercial sector. Are there formal exams? There will be no formal exams. Instead, all three modules (15 credits, NFQ Level 7) will have two pieces of assessment, a combination of online tests, essays and building reports. Whats costs does the bursary cover? The bursary covers all course fees, as well as an additional direct payment of €500 to assist with attendance expenses for on-campus in person practicals. How do I apply for the bursary scheme? Please send an email titled ‘Expression of Interest in NMS Bursary’ to the ATU Programme Coordinator and the National Monuments Service, as below: ATU Programme Coordinator Shirley Markley Shirley.markley@atu.ie NMS Archaeologist Cóilín Ó Drisceoil National Monuments Service Coilin.ODrisceoil@housing.gov.ie Deadline for expression of interest and completed ATU application is 6pm, Friday 12 June 2026. It is essential that the ATU application is completed at least ONE WEEK in advance of the NMS Bursary deadline to ensure processing by ATU Sligo. How are bursaries awarded? A total of ten bursaries is available. ATU will manage the selection criteria according to its approved systems. If there is oversubscription to this bursary scheme by eligible candidates, places will be selected randomly. Where can I find more information on the course? Learn more at ATU/Certificate-in-Buildings-Archaeology-Blended or scan the QR code on the bottom right.
BUILDINGS ARCHAEOLOGY BURSARY 2026
The National Monuments Service is delighted to invite applications for its annual bursary scheme for a one-year
course in buildings archaeology skills@atu-ie.bsky.social
@iaiarchaeo.bsky.social @archiremag.bsky.social
#ATU #BuildingsArchaeology #ClimatEireitage
Looking forward to the IPMAG conference in Waterford this weekend!
'Death & Superstition in Post-Medieval Ireland.'
Organised by IPMAG with Waterford Treasures and supported by the National Monuments Service. .
Full conference programme available here:
www.ipmag.org/ipmagconfere...
Almost a hundred new animal species that survived a mass extinction event half a billion years ago have been discovered in a small quarry in China! (via CBS news).
www.cbsnews.com/news/ancient...
In the current issue of Archaeology Ireland (Winter 2025):
Roisin O’Droma and Niamh Millward explore early modern Dublin through cesspit evidence from Capel Street—using plant and insect remains to reconstruct diet and daily life.
A remarkable display of the Aurora Borealis over Brú na Bóinne last night.
While prehistoric monuments were not built to anticipate aurorae, the skies above them were deeply meaningful places. These ideas are explored in Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide No. 82: Solar Alignments.
The Swinford Torc, as featured in the current issue of Archaeology Ireland. Image courtesy of The British Museum.
The Swinford Torc — a provenance ‘cold case’
In the current issue of Archaeology Ireland (Vol. 39, No. 4), Michael Brabazon re-examines the Swinford Torc, exploring questions of origin, discovery and context — and how provenance research can reshape our understanding of iconic Irish artefacts.
Cover image of An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo, published by Archaeopress.
In the current issue of Archaeology Ireland, Maedbh McEvoy reviews 'An Irish Civil War Dugout: Tormore Cave, County Sligo' by Marion Dowd, Robert Mulraney & James Bonsall—a multidisciplinary study revealing how dugouts shaped Civil War tactics and memory.
www.archaeologyireland.ie
A reconstruction of the Ballybunion knitted cap, together with an image of the author, Ryan Daniel Koenig, sporting the hat itself.
A knitted cap doesn’t look extraordinary—until you try to make one!
In this current issue of Archaeology Ireland Ryan Daniel Koenig reconstructs the sixteenth-century Ballybunion knitted cap, revealing the immense skill, time and embodied knowledge behind what was once everyday clothing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxE_...
Landscapes with Lineage (TII Heritage Series, vol. 16) presents the results of archaeological investigations along the Kildare section of the M9, revealing 97 previously unknown sites and almost 9,000 years of human activity. Congratulations to all involved!
