Rathcroghan Conference 2024: Archaeology Above & Below

Archaeology Above & Below, Ireland’s only annual community archaeology conference, is now in its ninth year. The purpose of this conference is to create a forum for discussion between communities and individuals who wish to interpret the story of the landscapes that we inhabit. This is achieved by a series of talks, workshops and field excursions, detailing the aims, techniques and results of community-led research throughout Ireland and further afield.

Join us this November as we host the presentation and discussion of the work and results of community groups, societies and individuals from around Ireland, as well as archaeological institutions and university departments across the island. This year, we will see contributions from places such as Clare, Galway, Dublin, Tipperary, Sligo, Mayo & Roscommon, as well as research provided by the Ulster Archaeological Society, Farming Rathcroghan EIP, University College Dublin, University of Galway, Queens University Belfast, amongst others.

Our fieldtrip this year, on the afternoon of 17th November, will be to Roscommon Castle, and to the newly conserved and now accessible southeastern castle turret. Our guide for the fieldtrip will be Dr. Kieran O'Conor, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Galway. Your own motor transportation will be required for the journey to Roscommon town to visit the castle.

We are delighted to welcome our keynote speaker, Prof. Aidan O'Sullivan, Head of the School of Archaeology at University College Dublin. In a lecture entitled "People and their Things in an Early Medieval Household - the evidence from early Irish laws, saints Lives and literature, archaeology and experimental archaeology", we greatly look forward to exploring that topic with Prof. O'Sullivan.

Full programme below: