28-29th May Space and Settlement in the Middle Ages

Nothing to do with moon rockets or the cosmos but a conference exploring Ireland’s ‘final frontier’ in the medieval period! More details here.

Major international conference on the O’Tunney sculptors for Kilkenny

The Living Tradition of Stone - Sculpture in Callan: The O’Tunneys, the men, the work and their times. 30 July - 1st August, the Friary, Mill Street, Callan.

An extraordinary flowering of sculptural and architectural stonecarving occurred in the period 1500-1650 in Kilkenny city and county. Callan was the base of the O’Tunney school of sculptors who, unusually, signed their work. Magnificent carving on many funeral monuments still speak to us today of the skill of Rory, William, Patrick and James O’Tunney and of the wealth and tastes of their patrons. A major conference to celebrate the O’Tunneys is being organised by the vibrant Callan Heritage Society and will be held 30th July - 1st August. To book your place see the attached programme here.

‘Discovering Our Archaeology’ prize night

14th May was prize giving night for the 2010 ‘Discovering Our Archaeology’ competition held in Rothe
House. The aim of the competition was to allow pupils to discover the archaeological heritage of the local areas. The Kilkenny Archaeological Project are delighted to be sponsors of the competition. The winners were:

First Prize: Eilis Fitzgearld, St. Brigid’s college, Callan for a model and essay on Killaghy castle

Second prize: Laura Kane, Presentation secondary school Kilkenny for her poster on the history of Bennetsbridge

Highly commended: Rachel Hughes, St. Brigid’s college, Callan for a model and essay on Burnchurch castle.

Winner of the competition Eilis Fitzgearld with mayor Malcolm Noonan

KKAP ‘Discovering Our Archaeology’ schools competition

KKAP is sponsoring and providing advice for the Kilkenny Archaeological Society’s ‘Discovering Our Archaeology’ competition for secondary schools. The prizegiving ceremony will be held at 8pm May 14th in Rothe House and will be attended by Mayor Malcolm Noonan. All welcome!

New KKAP collaborations with UCD department of archaeology

Two UCD students have begun research placements with the Kilkenny Archaeological Project. James Cahill is comparing  the animal bone assemblages from the 13th century houses at Brennan’s Yard, Irishtown and the pottery production site at Highhays. His work will use the bones to determine if there are are significant socio-economic differences between the two sites. In an exciting and innovative departure Gertie Keane is using the Kilkenny Urban Archaeological Database to research the archaeology of the Early Modern townhouse in Kilkenny.