About the Course

The 2017 summer school will comprise two separate courses, each worth 6 ECTS credits, transferable to 3 semester hours/credits in the North American system. The first 2 week course will commence on the 15th of May and combine lectures and guided field trips to introduce students to the prehistoric and medieval archaeology of Ireland.

Field trips will focus on the northwest of Ireland and counties Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim and will include Carrowmore and Carrowkeel megalithic tomb cemeteries, the Caves of Keash, Queen Maeve’s cairn and Knocknarea, Boyle and Fenagh Abbeys, the site of Spanish Armada wrecks at Streedagh Beach, Roscommon Castle and sites around the stunning Lough Arrow and Lough Key.

The second two week course starts on May 29th and will involve joining IT Sligo archaeology students on their annual training excavation at Moygara County Sligo, a 14-17th century castle linked historically to the O’Gara clan, medieval rulers of the area. This excavation has been running at a small scale since 2013 and will be expanded this year to fully investigate the hall uncovered in 2015.

Students will be housed in self catering, shared accommodation in the IT Sligo student residences. The IT Sligo campus is situated on the edge of Sligo town, with the centre only a short 10 minute walk away.

The summer school is open to university/college students from all disciplines and non students of any age (18 and above) who would love to learn about Irish archaeology through the combined modalities, of lectures, fieldtrips and 2 weeks excavation.