Two weeks to go until our colleague and friend, Prof. Mary Gomes of Sonoma State University joins us in Birr to give one of her inspiring talks.
When: Wednesday, 6th May 2026 at 6pm
Where: Birr Library
All welcome
Save the date!
We are delighted that our colleague and friend Prof Mary Gomes of Sonoma State University is visiting Birr whilst on Sabbatical, and is giving a free public lecture in Birr Library on Wednesday, 6th May at 6pm. Please join us.
We are proud to be part of a prestigious award from the SAA. We wrote a chapter in the book (Reetz & Sperling (eds) 'A Practitioner’s Guide to Public Archaeology', whose 38 authors are the joint recipients of the 2026 Society for American Archaeology Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award!
Apropos our rescue excavations of human remains at Lemanaghan Monastic Complex in Offaly, on foot of Storm Éowyn (which hit this day last year of the feast day of the founder of the monastery), aside from being covered by RTE our real claim to fame is we were covered by @whispersnews
We are delighted to welcome our intrepid band of students from the US, Canada and Australia for our Winter Monastic Midlands Program, run in partnership with the @ifrglobal. It's particularly brrrrrr in Birr this January!
We are delighted to welcome our intrepid band of students from the US, Canada and Australia for our Winter Monastic Midlands Program, run in partnership with the @ifrglobal. It's particularly brrrrrr in Birr this January!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
This is the last one! - Happy Christmas to all 🧑🎄
Photo 12 - Cairn T at Loughcrew passage tomb complex. One of my signature 'well, I look good' selfies!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 11 - I feel bad about this one! Same people as Photo 9, but this is the magnificent Neo Gothic ballroom in Slane Castle, Meath.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 10 - one of my favourite places to nerd out on geology. The Silurian-Devonian unconformity in the Silver River, Slieve Bloom Mountains, Offaly.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 9 - Tricky one. This is one of my patented floor selfies, inside the foyer of the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare St. A must visit in Dublin for archaeology nerds.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 8 - Sneak one 😜; on a tour of the Centre for Experimental Archaeology in UCD; inside the roundhouse. It is surprisingly big!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 7 - The Medieval City of Kilkenny from atop St Canice's Round Tower. A scary climb but worth every step!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 6 - another easy one. The view from the top of Knowth Passage Tomb in Bru na Boyne. A stunning landscape!
Our longest standing faculty led program is with Indiana State University, and 2026 will mark ten years of a wonderful partnership that has brought so much to the communities in which we live and work.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 5 - easy one 😁; Dun Aonghasa Hillfort; dating to the Bronze Age and a must visit on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 4 - The Interbasaltic Horizon at the Giant's Causeway. If you visit, do the cliff walk and check out the red laterite horizon.
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 3 - The early 16th century Franciscan college on the Hill of Slane, founded by the Anglo-Norman Flemings family, and one of the best picnic spots in Ireland!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 2 - Galros Bog, Birr, CO. Offaly. Harvested by Bord na Mona, you can see the post-glacial lake marl under the bog!
For the next twelve days (at this time) we are going to give the answers to our 'where am I?' competition.
Photo 1 - The Spire, Dublin city centre. It has inspired some interesting nicknames. e.g. the Stiletto in the Ghetto, the Nail in the Pale and the Stiffy by the Liffey!
We have been partnering with Dr Jeanne Sumrall, Fort Hays University KAMS program, on environmental science programs since 2019. We explore the landscape from the bedrock to glacial sediments to flora and microfauna to human impact on the landscape over time in the Midlands and Burren regions.
Monday mischief 🤣
Join us if you think learning should be fun (scan the QR code on the fourth image)
Miriam excavated with us in Ferns, and did an internship in 2023. She was a valued and fun part of the team for the summer, and we have really enjoyed watching her career flourish as she surveys the most incredible landscapes across the US working in CRM. Miriam is also an excellent artist 😁
Sacramento University have been coming to us since 2021 on a Service Learning Program led by Dr Lee Simpson. The students are always hard working and enthusiastic, and their work has contributed so much to the heritage town of Birr.
It's Throwback Thursday, when we take a look back at happy memories of past projects.
Seir Kieran was founded by St Kieran in the 5th century and has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. We have undertaken LiDAR scanning, geophysical survey, graveyard recording and an educational program.
Competition Tuesday! It's the last week of our annual photo identification contest. There are 12 in total - go back to posts for the last five Tuesdays to revise). Send in your answers (1-12) by email to stephen.mandal@irishheritageschool.ie by 31 Dec 2025 to be in with a chance to win 💪
Monday mischief 🤣
Join us if you think learning should be fun (scan the QR code on the fourth image)
Sunday is about gratitude. The lovely notes we receive from students, and watching their journeys after they leave makes it all worth while. For the next few weeks, we would like to share a few. If you know someone who might be interested in joining us in 2026, scan the QR code in the last image 🤗
Our partnership with Sonoma State University started in 2019, and most years since Prof Mary Gomes has brought an intrepid group of students to study the Irish landscape, myths and dreams. We base ourselves in Rock Farm Slane as a base to explore the Boyne Valley and beyond.
It's Throwback Thursday, when we take a look back at happy memories of past projects.
A newspaper report in the Kings County Chronicle, dated 7 August 1919, recorded a series of trenches constructed in 'the Fourteen Acres' to train troops for service in WWI. We found them in 2018!
Competition Tuesday! From 28 Oct to 02 Dec 2025, join our annual photo identification contest. With incredible prizes and instant fame, there are two photos each week. Just like the photo if you know the location! On 02 Dec, an email will be provided for submitting answers 1-12. Good luck 💪