Videos/Podcasts by Paul Duffy
Gone Medieval , 2022
Ireland has long been overlooked in the context of crusading. It has not only been largely absent... more Ireland has long been overlooked in the context of crusading. It has not only been largely absent from accounts of crusades and crusading, it has also not featured in histories of Ireland. A new book from Forecourts Press, titled Ireland and the Crusades, seeks to correct these omissions.
NATIONAL MONUMENTS SERVICE 6th ANNUAL ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE
Structures of import—the buildings of Dublin’s historic immigrant communities. Video
Amplify Archaeology Podcast, 2022
Fadó fadó. Once upon a time…. all the best stories start like that. But how do you go about weavi... more Fadó fadó. Once upon a time…. all the best stories start like that. But how do you go about weaving together a compelling narrative with historical and archaeological evidence? In this episode Neil is joined by Paul Duffy to discuss archaeological storytelling.
One of the most important and rewarding aspects of our work at Abarta Heritage is to try to tell the story of Ireland’s past in accessible and exciting ways, and in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with a real master at this – Paul Duffy.
Paul is an experienced archaeologist and has directed numerous landmark excavations in Dublin as well as leading projects in Australia, France and the United Kingdom. He has published and lectured widely on this work, and his books include From Carrickfergus to Carcassonne—the Epic Deeds of Hugh de Lacy
during the Cathar Crusade (2018) and Ireland and the Crusades (2021). Paul has brought all of his insights and understandings of medieval Ireland to bear in his compelling new book Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound.
The book begins on a remote Gaelic farmstead in medieval Ireland, when word reaches Alberic of conquering Norman knights arriving from England. Oppressed by the social order that enslaved his Norman father, he yearns for the reckoning he believes the invaders will bring—but his world is about to burn. Captured by the Norman knight Hugo de Lacy and installed at Dublin Castle as a translator, Alberic’s confused loyalties are tested at every turn. When de Lacy marches inland, Alberic is set on a collision course with his former masters amidst rumours of a great Gaelic army rising in the west. Can Alberic navigate safely through revenge, lust and betrayal to find his place amidst the birth of a kingdom in a land of war?
Paul and I have a wide-ranging discussion that flows from the latest archaeological discoveries in Dublin to how to develop a character-driven story that balances evidence and narrative. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Dublin Festival of History
Recording of presentation detailing Ireland's connections to the Crusades with a focus on Hugh de... more Recording of presentation detailing Ireland's connections to the Crusades with a focus on Hugh de Lacy, earl of Ulster's participation in the Albigensian Crusade
DCC Medieval Symposium: the Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr
'The Sacred and the Profane - preliminary results of archaeological excavations at 30 & 32-36, Th... more 'The Sacred and the Profane - preliminary results of archaeological excavations at 30 & 32-36, Thomas Street'; a paper from 'The Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr' conference by archaeologist Paul Duffy.
Slides referenced in the presentation are available at historyhub.ie/thomasabbey
Abstract: Recent excavations in advance of redevelopment of the site of Frawley’s department store on Thomas Street have uncovered rich archaeological remains dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods. The site was found to straddle the boundary of the Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr and excavations have identified the location of the northern precinct as well as a portion of the Abbey cemetery. This paper discusses the preliminary results of these excavations and highlights the widely differing activities that were taking place side by side - within and without the Abbey walls.
Bio: Paul Duffy is a professional archaeologist working for IAC Archaeology. He graduated with a first class BA (Hons) in Heritage Studies from GMIT in 2005. He spent several years working on large infrastructure projects supervising numerous prehistoric and medieval excavations throughout Ireland and overseas.
This is a podcast from a Dublin City Council symposium on the history of The Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr.
The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in the 12th century and played a pivotal role in the religious and political affairs of Dublin city until its dissolution in 1539. A weekend of events, organised by Dublin City Council, celebrating the Abbey and its history took place in October 2017 and this podcast is taken from the symposium (on the history of the Abbey) which took place in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street on October 14th.
Podcasts from the symposium were produced by @real-smart-media in association with UCD's historyhub.ie/.
About the conference
Did you know that an Augustinian abbey once lay just outside the medieval walls of Dublin, just off modern-day Thomas Street? The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in 1177 on the orders of King Henry II of England, after he inadvertently ordered the killing of Thomas Beckett.
The abbey lends Thomas Street its name today, and had a major influence on Dublin while in operation.
While no trace of the abbey remains above ground today, Dublin City Council’s South Central Area office and Dublin City Archaeologist have been working to unravel the mysteries and bring the Abbey back to life. A weekend of events celebrating the Abbey and sharing their findings took place Friday, 13th October and Saturday, 14th October.
This podcast is taken from a conference on the history of the Abbey which took place on Saturday, 14th October.
Books by Paul Duffy
Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound, 2022
An extensively researched, sensory narrative set in 1170s Ireland, this book details the experien... more An extensively researched, sensory narrative set in 1170s Ireland, this book details the experience of the son of an English-born slave in Gaelic Meath during the coming of the Normans to Ireland.
Ireland and the Crusades, 2021
The crusades – a broad term encompassing a disparate series of military expeditions, with the avo... more The crusades – a broad term encompassing a disparate series of military expeditions, with the avowed intent of preserving/expanding Christianity and the heterodoxy of the Roman Church – were a quintessential phenomenon of moral and religious life in medieval Europe. Traditionally, Ireland’s connection with the crusades has been seen to be slight. In recent years, however, new research has begun to replace this view with a more nuanced picture. This is an interdisciplinary volume of essays from leading scholars working in this field, which re-examines Ireland’s connection to the crusading movement in its many forms.
From Carrickfergus to Carcassonne: the epic deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusade, 2018
Book Chapters by Paul Duffy
Medieval Dublin XIX, 2022
This paper describes extensive excavations carried out over two sites to the south of Dublin Cast... more This paper describes extensive excavations carried out over two sites to the south of Dublin Castle from 2018-2020 which identified the 'lost' church of St Peter on the Mount, a unique sunken floored structure of Hiberno-Norse date as well as evidence for an early southern suburb of Dublin.
Transforming Heritage Practice in the 21st Century, 2019
Participation and Participation: community archaeology in Ireland, 2020
This article reflects on the significant growth of community archaeology in Ireland since 2012, b... more This article reflects on the significant growth of community archaeology in Ireland since 2012, both in terms of
participatory heritage projects and as a recognisable concept/subdiscipline in itself. The rapid pace of development of
community archaeology is discussed in the context of wider developments in archaeological practice and a brief
examination of the possible causes for this boom is presented, followed by a non-exhaustive summary of projects and
initiatives that the author feels have been instrumental in this growth. The question is posed as to whether self-reflection
and accountability with regard to models of community archaeology are needed or desirable. The final section comprises
a speculative look ahead to what directions community archaeology may take over the coming decades. This is framed
in the context of the current funding streams available and how these may develop in future, as well as the part that
planning and contract specifications may play in the growth and sustainability of community archaeology projects.
Medieval Dublin XVIII, 2021
Medieval Dublin XV, 2016
The Register of Monuments and Places, a record of all known archaeological sites and places of in... more The Register of Monuments and Places, a record of all known archaeological sites and places of interest in Ireland, contains hundreds of entries which have been swallowed up by housing developments built at a time before strong heritage legislation was in place in this State. In many instances, these recorded monuments have been identified post-development through the analysis of cartographic sources and aerial photography. It can be safely assumed that these identified sites represent only a small portion of the archaeological record for these areas. Given the nature of suburban expansion of Dublin in the twentieth century, sites occupying the immediate hinterland of the medieval city have been most affected. Important detail concerning the interplay between walled Dublin (including its abbeys, markets and export trade) and the immediate, food producing areas within a day’s easy travel by foot or by cart has, as a consequence, been lost. What information, if any, can be gathered from these suburban monuments that comprise a considerable portion of the nation’s archaeological resource? Generally untouched by development-led archaeology, these monuments and places lie largely unexplored, their state unknowable, beneath the expanse of suburbia.
During the summer months of 2013 and 2014, the Grassroots Archaeology Project attempted to resurrect the story of one such forgotten monument from beneath the gardens and greenspaces of a residential housing estate in suburban north Dublin. A community led project, Grassroots brought together professional expertise and local involvement to orchestrate a programme of historical research, geophysical survey and targeted test trenching.
The monument in question was enclosure DU015-018, located within the Seagrange housing estate, c. 9km to the east-northeast of Dublin City. Seagrange is located within the townland of Baldoyle, c. 750m north-northwest of the coast of Dublin Bay and c. 950m west-southwest of the coast of the Irish Sea. Prior to the Grassroots Project, the sole available information relating to this monument was a Cambridge series aerial photo (1970-CUCAP AIG 95-c) which was taken just prior to the construction of the housing estate in 1973. This photo clearly shows a rectangular cropmark presenting as a darker rectangular shape within low-lying arable fields. Further evidence for the presence of an enclosure at the site was identified on William Duncan’s 1821 Map of the county of Dublin.
The morphology of the cropmark, its location in the landscape as well as the suggestion of ancillary features on the photo led to an initial, tentative identification of DU015-018 as a medieval moated site. A topographical and geophysical survey undertaken in advance of trenching identified a potential underground spring/aquifer c. 70m to the northeast of the enclosure. A potential leat running from the precise location of this water source into the northeast corner of the suspected moat was identified from a vertically rectified version of the aerial photo. The presence of such a feature was also hinted at in the magnetometer results. Initial recovery of two small sherds of Leinster Cooking Ware from the garden soil of one of the properties overlying the monument added somewhat to this provisional interpretation of the enclosure as a moated site.
On this evidence, a programme of archaeological test trenching was planned. This work was made possible by a grant from the Royal Irish Academy and was facilitated by Fingal County Council’s Heritage Officer. The excavations were conducted by local archaeologists, local community members and other volunteers, including archaeology students and post-graduate researchers from UCD.
This paper details the results of the excavations and places them in the historical context of Baldoyle and the Dublin Region from the 8th to 14th centuries.
From Carickfergus to Carcassonne: The epic deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusade
in From Carrickfergus to Carcassone: The epic deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusa... more in From Carrickfergus to Carcassone: The epic deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusade/ La geste épique d’Hugues de Lacy au temps de la croisade des Albigeois. Brepols. Turnhout.
CH. 16 - FROM CARICKFERGUS TO CARCASSONNE/DE CARRICKFERGUS A CARCASSONNE: The epic deeds of Hugh... more CH. 16 - FROM CARICKFERGUS TO CARCASSONNE/DE CARRICKFERGUS A CARCASSONNE: The epic deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusade/ La geste épique d’Hugues de Lacy au temps de la croisade des Albigeois. Brepols. Turnhout.
Peer Reviewed Papers by Paul Duffy
Medieval Archaeology Vol 66, Issue 2, 2022
Description of archaeological excavations within the precinct of St Mary's Abbey Dublin and the d... more Description of archaeological excavations within the precinct of St Mary's Abbey Dublin and the discovery of the medieval 'Cemetery Gate' that gave access to the inner precinct of the Cistercian abbey
Journal of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists, Vol 5, 2017
Journal of Irish Archaeology vol 22, Jul 2, 2014
Recent studies and experiments in Irish archaeology have greatly increased the available knowledg... more Recent studies and experiments in Irish archaeology have greatly increased the available knowledge on the features generally described as grain drying kilns. Based on these studies, a typological framework has been established (www.emap.ie) to categorise kilns and to easier apportion different forms to different periods (ie. Keyhole, Figure of Eight, Dumb-bell and Pit/Irregular shaped). The excavation of an unusual later medieval kiln with a roughly T-shaped flue in the townland of Folkstown Great near Balbriggan does not however fit easily into this typological model. Three features which may be classified as ‘Pit Kilns’ according to the above typology were excavated nearby and yielded comparable medieval ceramic fragments and C14 date ranges to the T-shaped example. When the environmental samples were analysed, significant variations in the plant macrofossil assemblages were noted between the pit kilns and the T-shaped kiln. The particular morphology of the T-shaped kiln is here discussed and the kiln is regarded in the context of the wider archaeological signature of the area. This paper then contends that the T-shaped kiln was specifically designed to carry out a range of functions above and beyond that carried out at the conventional Pit-Kilns on site and finally proposes a function associated with the process of drying malted barley for the purpose of brewing ale. This suggestion is discussed in conjunction with several enigmatic mortar lined pits located nearby. Finally the ensemble of features is considered as a potential malting/brewing complex capable of producing large quantities of ale.
Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland vol 141, Jun 1, 2014
Following his expulsion from Ireland by King John in 1210, Hugh de Lacy spent thirteen years in e... more Following his expulsion from Ireland by King John in 1210, Hugh de Lacy spent thirteen years in exile before returning to invade parts of Meath and his former earldom of Ulster.
During his absence he is known to have been in France. This period of de Lacy’s life has largely been ignored by Irish historians. Examining the career of Hugh de Lacy in the years of his exile from Ireland, this paper focuses on his pivotal role in the Albigensian Crusade and his subsequent appointment by Simon de Montfort as the lord of Castelnaudary and Laurac. Drawing on works of contemporary chroniclers and other documentary sources, this paper reconstructs de Lacy’s movements in Languedoc. In doing so, a potential line of cause and effect from expulsion, crusade, invasion and restitution is explored.
Journal of Community Archaeology and Heritage Vol 1 issue 3, Sep 1, 2014
The Grassroots Archaeology Project is a home-grown community-based initiative aiming to combine p... more The Grassroots Archaeology Project is a home-grown community-based initiative aiming to combine professional expertise and local support to discover the story of a forgotten monument. The monument in question, a suspected medieval moated site, has been subsumed by the modern housing estate where I grew up in suburban Dublin. Throughout the stages of the project, the Grassroots Team has worked to engage the public and to disseminate new knowledge in the hopes of contributing to the sense of identity and community for residents of this constructed suburban landscape. This paper places community archaeology within an Irish context, details the experience of community and the lessons learned during our first season, and examines the conflict arising between the role of the professional archaeologist and the local residents. This conflict was complicated by the simultaneous ‘professional’ and ‘local’ status of certain members of the project team, myself included.
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Videos/Podcasts by Paul Duffy
One of the most important and rewarding aspects of our work at Abarta Heritage is to try to tell the story of Ireland’s past in accessible and exciting ways, and in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with a real master at this – Paul Duffy.
Paul is an experienced archaeologist and has directed numerous landmark excavations in Dublin as well as leading projects in Australia, France and the United Kingdom. He has published and lectured widely on this work, and his books include From Carrickfergus to Carcassonne—the Epic Deeds of Hugh de Lacy
during the Cathar Crusade (2018) and Ireland and the Crusades (2021). Paul has brought all of his insights and understandings of medieval Ireland to bear in his compelling new book Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound.
The book begins on a remote Gaelic farmstead in medieval Ireland, when word reaches Alberic of conquering Norman knights arriving from England. Oppressed by the social order that enslaved his Norman father, he yearns for the reckoning he believes the invaders will bring—but his world is about to burn. Captured by the Norman knight Hugo de Lacy and installed at Dublin Castle as a translator, Alberic’s confused loyalties are tested at every turn. When de Lacy marches inland, Alberic is set on a collision course with his former masters amidst rumours of a great Gaelic army rising in the west. Can Alberic navigate safely through revenge, lust and betrayal to find his place amidst the birth of a kingdom in a land of war?
Paul and I have a wide-ranging discussion that flows from the latest archaeological discoveries in Dublin to how to develop a character-driven story that balances evidence and narrative. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Slides referenced in the presentation are available at historyhub.ie/thomasabbey
Abstract: Recent excavations in advance of redevelopment of the site of Frawley’s department store on Thomas Street have uncovered rich archaeological remains dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods. The site was found to straddle the boundary of the Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr and excavations have identified the location of the northern precinct as well as a portion of the Abbey cemetery. This paper discusses the preliminary results of these excavations and highlights the widely differing activities that were taking place side by side - within and without the Abbey walls.
Bio: Paul Duffy is a professional archaeologist working for IAC Archaeology. He graduated with a first class BA (Hons) in Heritage Studies from GMIT in 2005. He spent several years working on large infrastructure projects supervising numerous prehistoric and medieval excavations throughout Ireland and overseas.
This is a podcast from a Dublin City Council symposium on the history of The Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr.
The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in the 12th century and played a pivotal role in the religious and political affairs of Dublin city until its dissolution in 1539. A weekend of events, organised by Dublin City Council, celebrating the Abbey and its history took place in October 2017 and this podcast is taken from the symposium (on the history of the Abbey) which took place in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street on October 14th.
Podcasts from the symposium were produced by @real-smart-media in association with UCD's historyhub.ie/.
About the conference
Did you know that an Augustinian abbey once lay just outside the medieval walls of Dublin, just off modern-day Thomas Street? The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in 1177 on the orders of King Henry II of England, after he inadvertently ordered the killing of Thomas Beckett.
The abbey lends Thomas Street its name today, and had a major influence on Dublin while in operation.
While no trace of the abbey remains above ground today, Dublin City Council’s South Central Area office and Dublin City Archaeologist have been working to unravel the mysteries and bring the Abbey back to life. A weekend of events celebrating the Abbey and sharing their findings took place Friday, 13th October and Saturday, 14th October.
This podcast is taken from a conference on the history of the Abbey which took place on Saturday, 14th October.
Books by Paul Duffy
Book Chapters by Paul Duffy
participatory heritage projects and as a recognisable concept/subdiscipline in itself. The rapid pace of development of
community archaeology is discussed in the context of wider developments in archaeological practice and a brief
examination of the possible causes for this boom is presented, followed by a non-exhaustive summary of projects and
initiatives that the author feels have been instrumental in this growth. The question is posed as to whether self-reflection
and accountability with regard to models of community archaeology are needed or desirable. The final section comprises
a speculative look ahead to what directions community archaeology may take over the coming decades. This is framed
in the context of the current funding streams available and how these may develop in future, as well as the part that
planning and contract specifications may play in the growth and sustainability of community archaeology projects.
During the summer months of 2013 and 2014, the Grassroots Archaeology Project attempted to resurrect the story of one such forgotten monument from beneath the gardens and greenspaces of a residential housing estate in suburban north Dublin. A community led project, Grassroots brought together professional expertise and local involvement to orchestrate a programme of historical research, geophysical survey and targeted test trenching.
The monument in question was enclosure DU015-018, located within the Seagrange housing estate, c. 9km to the east-northeast of Dublin City. Seagrange is located within the townland of Baldoyle, c. 750m north-northwest of the coast of Dublin Bay and c. 950m west-southwest of the coast of the Irish Sea. Prior to the Grassroots Project, the sole available information relating to this monument was a Cambridge series aerial photo (1970-CUCAP AIG 95-c) which was taken just prior to the construction of the housing estate in 1973. This photo clearly shows a rectangular cropmark presenting as a darker rectangular shape within low-lying arable fields. Further evidence for the presence of an enclosure at the site was identified on William Duncan’s 1821 Map of the county of Dublin.
The morphology of the cropmark, its location in the landscape as well as the suggestion of ancillary features on the photo led to an initial, tentative identification of DU015-018 as a medieval moated site. A topographical and geophysical survey undertaken in advance of trenching identified a potential underground spring/aquifer c. 70m to the northeast of the enclosure. A potential leat running from the precise location of this water source into the northeast corner of the suspected moat was identified from a vertically rectified version of the aerial photo. The presence of such a feature was also hinted at in the magnetometer results. Initial recovery of two small sherds of Leinster Cooking Ware from the garden soil of one of the properties overlying the monument added somewhat to this provisional interpretation of the enclosure as a moated site.
On this evidence, a programme of archaeological test trenching was planned. This work was made possible by a grant from the Royal Irish Academy and was facilitated by Fingal County Council’s Heritage Officer. The excavations were conducted by local archaeologists, local community members and other volunteers, including archaeology students and post-graduate researchers from UCD.
This paper details the results of the excavations and places them in the historical context of Baldoyle and the Dublin Region from the 8th to 14th centuries.
Peer Reviewed Papers by Paul Duffy
During his absence he is known to have been in France. This period of de Lacy’s life has largely been ignored by Irish historians. Examining the career of Hugh de Lacy in the years of his exile from Ireland, this paper focuses on his pivotal role in the Albigensian Crusade and his subsequent appointment by Simon de Montfort as the lord of Castelnaudary and Laurac. Drawing on works of contemporary chroniclers and other documentary sources, this paper reconstructs de Lacy’s movements in Languedoc. In doing so, a potential line of cause and effect from expulsion, crusade, invasion and restitution is explored.
One of the most important and rewarding aspects of our work at Abarta Heritage is to try to tell the story of Ireland’s past in accessible and exciting ways, and in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, I had the opportunity to talk with a real master at this – Paul Duffy.
Paul is an experienced archaeologist and has directed numerous landmark excavations in Dublin as well as leading projects in Australia, France and the United Kingdom. He has published and lectured widely on this work, and his books include From Carrickfergus to Carcassonne—the Epic Deeds of Hugh de Lacy
during the Cathar Crusade (2018) and Ireland and the Crusades (2021). Paul has brought all of his insights and understandings of medieval Ireland to bear in his compelling new book Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound.
The book begins on a remote Gaelic farmstead in medieval Ireland, when word reaches Alberic of conquering Norman knights arriving from England. Oppressed by the social order that enslaved his Norman father, he yearns for the reckoning he believes the invaders will bring—but his world is about to burn. Captured by the Norman knight Hugo de Lacy and installed at Dublin Castle as a translator, Alberic’s confused loyalties are tested at every turn. When de Lacy marches inland, Alberic is set on a collision course with his former masters amidst rumours of a great Gaelic army rising in the west. Can Alberic navigate safely through revenge, lust and betrayal to find his place amidst the birth of a kingdom in a land of war?
Paul and I have a wide-ranging discussion that flows from the latest archaeological discoveries in Dublin to how to develop a character-driven story that balances evidence and narrative. I hope you enjoy the episode!
Slides referenced in the presentation are available at historyhub.ie/thomasabbey
Abstract: Recent excavations in advance of redevelopment of the site of Frawley’s department store on Thomas Street have uncovered rich archaeological remains dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods. The site was found to straddle the boundary of the Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr and excavations have identified the location of the northern precinct as well as a portion of the Abbey cemetery. This paper discusses the preliminary results of these excavations and highlights the widely differing activities that were taking place side by side - within and without the Abbey walls.
Bio: Paul Duffy is a professional archaeologist working for IAC Archaeology. He graduated with a first class BA (Hons) in Heritage Studies from GMIT in 2005. He spent several years working on large infrastructure projects supervising numerous prehistoric and medieval excavations throughout Ireland and overseas.
This is a podcast from a Dublin City Council symposium on the history of The Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr.
The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in the 12th century and played a pivotal role in the religious and political affairs of Dublin city until its dissolution in 1539. A weekend of events, organised by Dublin City Council, celebrating the Abbey and its history took place in October 2017 and this podcast is taken from the symposium (on the history of the Abbey) which took place in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street on October 14th.
Podcasts from the symposium were produced by @real-smart-media in association with UCD's historyhub.ie/.
About the conference
Did you know that an Augustinian abbey once lay just outside the medieval walls of Dublin, just off modern-day Thomas Street? The Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in 1177 on the orders of King Henry II of England, after he inadvertently ordered the killing of Thomas Beckett.
The abbey lends Thomas Street its name today, and had a major influence on Dublin while in operation.
While no trace of the abbey remains above ground today, Dublin City Council’s South Central Area office and Dublin City Archaeologist have been working to unravel the mysteries and bring the Abbey back to life. A weekend of events celebrating the Abbey and sharing their findings took place Friday, 13th October and Saturday, 14th October.
This podcast is taken from a conference on the history of the Abbey which took place on Saturday, 14th October.
participatory heritage projects and as a recognisable concept/subdiscipline in itself. The rapid pace of development of
community archaeology is discussed in the context of wider developments in archaeological practice and a brief
examination of the possible causes for this boom is presented, followed by a non-exhaustive summary of projects and
initiatives that the author feels have been instrumental in this growth. The question is posed as to whether self-reflection
and accountability with regard to models of community archaeology are needed or desirable. The final section comprises
a speculative look ahead to what directions community archaeology may take over the coming decades. This is framed
in the context of the current funding streams available and how these may develop in future, as well as the part that
planning and contract specifications may play in the growth and sustainability of community archaeology projects.
During the summer months of 2013 and 2014, the Grassroots Archaeology Project attempted to resurrect the story of one such forgotten monument from beneath the gardens and greenspaces of a residential housing estate in suburban north Dublin. A community led project, Grassroots brought together professional expertise and local involvement to orchestrate a programme of historical research, geophysical survey and targeted test trenching.
The monument in question was enclosure DU015-018, located within the Seagrange housing estate, c. 9km to the east-northeast of Dublin City. Seagrange is located within the townland of Baldoyle, c. 750m north-northwest of the coast of Dublin Bay and c. 950m west-southwest of the coast of the Irish Sea. Prior to the Grassroots Project, the sole available information relating to this monument was a Cambridge series aerial photo (1970-CUCAP AIG 95-c) which was taken just prior to the construction of the housing estate in 1973. This photo clearly shows a rectangular cropmark presenting as a darker rectangular shape within low-lying arable fields. Further evidence for the presence of an enclosure at the site was identified on William Duncan’s 1821 Map of the county of Dublin.
The morphology of the cropmark, its location in the landscape as well as the suggestion of ancillary features on the photo led to an initial, tentative identification of DU015-018 as a medieval moated site. A topographical and geophysical survey undertaken in advance of trenching identified a potential underground spring/aquifer c. 70m to the northeast of the enclosure. A potential leat running from the precise location of this water source into the northeast corner of the suspected moat was identified from a vertically rectified version of the aerial photo. The presence of such a feature was also hinted at in the magnetometer results. Initial recovery of two small sherds of Leinster Cooking Ware from the garden soil of one of the properties overlying the monument added somewhat to this provisional interpretation of the enclosure as a moated site.
On this evidence, a programme of archaeological test trenching was planned. This work was made possible by a grant from the Royal Irish Academy and was facilitated by Fingal County Council’s Heritage Officer. The excavations were conducted by local archaeologists, local community members and other volunteers, including archaeology students and post-graduate researchers from UCD.
This paper details the results of the excavations and places them in the historical context of Baldoyle and the Dublin Region from the 8th to 14th centuries.
During his absence he is known to have been in France. This period of de Lacy’s life has largely been ignored by Irish historians. Examining the career of Hugh de Lacy in the years of his exile from Ireland, this paper focuses on his pivotal role in the Albigensian Crusade and his subsequent appointment by Simon de Montfort as the lord of Castelnaudary and Laurac. Drawing on works of contemporary chroniclers and other documentary sources, this paper reconstructs de Lacy’s movements in Languedoc. In doing so, a potential line of cause and effect from expulsion, crusade, invasion and restitution is explored.
Waru Heritage Consulting
‘Hibernia Wallia Anglia expulit’: Hugh de Lacy and the Politics of Emotion
The early 13th century was an era marked, particularly in England, by powerful, rebellious barons. Within this political
landscape, emotion played an important role in interpersonal relationships and rivalries. This dynamic is well illustrated
by Hugh de Lacy’s rebellion against King John.
This paper examines the possibility that de Lacy’s treason stemmed from John’s part in the death of de Lacy’s father as
alleged by Giraldus Cambrensis. John’s subsequent campaign to Ireland in 1210, which according to Roger of Wendover
was driven by a public insult, resulted in the exile of Hugh and his brother Walter.
Following his exile to France, de Lacy participated in the Albigensian Crusade. The narrative sources of the crusade,
particularly de Tudèle’s epic poem, attribute impassioned speeches and exclamations to de Lacy which provide further
clues to his temperament and exemplify the portrayal of emotion in Occitan literature. His loyalty to Simon de
Montfort is presented as fervent, his wisdom as prescient and his bravery as consummate. Further examination of the
sources hints that the genesis for the pivotal episode termed by Michel Roquebert as ‘the audacious plan of Hugh de
Lacy’ can be traced to de Lacy’s defeat and humiliation in Ireland.
Royal correspondences and annalistic entries record de Lacy’s trenchant refusal of conciliation with the Angevin
administration well after Walter’s rapprochement. Hugh’s ensuing invasion of Meath and Ulster reveals long hoarded
resentments manifest as acts of revenge against his brother-in-law Nicholas de Verdon.
This paper contests that Hugh de Lacy’s rebellion, exile and eventual restitution were driven by revenge, ambition,
pride and humiliation as much as by broader political events. By examining the web of barons drawn into and influenced
by de Lacy’s machinations it is possible to surmise that such emotional determinants were intrinsic to the politics of the
day.