Looking at recent archaeological research in the Boyne Valley
THE Old Drogheda Society is delighted to announce that its annual John Boyle O’Reilly School will be held in association with Dundalk Institute of Technology and will present a fascinating illustration of “Recent Archaeological Research in the Boyne Valley”.
The event will take place in The Governor’s House, Millmount, on Saturday 2nd December. Registration begins at 9.30 a.m. and the conference continues through the day until about 3.30 p.m.
The contents will be divided into three sessions with three papers each treating different aspects of the exciting research that has been undertaken in recent years into the rich heritage of the Boyne Valley.
The first session will update our knowledge of the Great Passage Tombs that have become so important not only for our understanding of the past but also as the primary tourist attraction of the region.
This will be followed by a session entitled “Surveying the Landscape and the Monuments”, which will deal with the current progress and future potential of landscape-scale geophysical surveys, the Discovery Programme and the issues associated with managing archaeological heritage. The final session will address the very interesting work currently being undertaken by community projects across the Boyne Valley and in particular in Slane, Kilberry and Trim.
Finally, the Old Drogheda Society will then launch a new initiative of its own. It will invite expressions of interest from individuals who might like to participate in a new community archaeology group within the Society. This group could learn together about the range of archaeological monuments in the region and prepare and implement a plan to engage in small scale projects that would operate to standards of best practice under the guidance of a professionally trained advisor to promote, preserve and perhaps even to add to the knowledge of our archaeological heritage.
The Secretary of the Society, Eamon Thornton, said “The John Boyle O’Reilly School is organised with a different historical theme each year by the Old Drogheda Society in honour of the great local patriot. It is usually one of the highlights of the programme of the Society and can be relied upon to add significantly to our understanding and appreciation of our history and heritage. This conference will be no exception. There has been a huge increase in recent times in the appreciation of our history and heritage and this is a superb opportunity for all those who wish to improve their knowledge and awareness of the archaeology of the Boyne Valley”
Prior booking is advised and tickets can be purchased through the eventbrite website www. eventbrite.ie.
Bookings is essential for the lunch which costs €30 and they should be made to Drogheda Museum Millmout 041 - 9833097 or e-mail old. drogheda.society@gmail.com. There will be a bookstall from 12.30 pm (before the dinner only) the ideal chance to buy a book of local interest as a Christmas gift.