This has been a very busy weekend for the field school and our parent company, the Irish Heritage School, with three Spring programs starting. I think I drew the long straw as I am leading our Forensic Anthropology Program with Dr Dara Fleming-Farrell in the Irish National Heritage Park in Ferrycarrig, in partnership with Maynooth University. Our students flew in from all over the US and were treated to a whistle stop tour of the prehistoric part of the Park with Park guide Ben, including meeting the Park's ethical hunter Neil, who demonstrated how to prepare a rabbit for the fire (it tasted ok!). The Program starts in earnest tomorrow.

Our last member of the Winter 2018 class, Maddy Harris, left this weekend. Thanks for all the work Maddy; you will be really missed, even though you will be back in a few weeks 🙂. Parent company IHS are already busy preparing for programs in Birr (and lots of walking) this weekend. Not to be outdone we will also be back in the Irish Heritage Park Wexford on Friday - if they get rid of the snow - readying for our forensic program. Can't wait! #forensicanthropology #sunnysoutheast #visitwexford #irelandsancienteast

It is official the children are spending too much time in work! Instead of a snow man the boys wanted to make a snow fort 'like' The Irish National Heritage Park. The fort was short lived as although a siege was successfully resisted the 'Normans' deserted and ruined their own fortification! #snowday #beastfromtheeast #toughjob

The park is looking beautiful, but shut due to snow! We better see a return of Wexico in a couple of weeks...

Another nice weekend visit to the park! This time for the inaugural meeting of our new 'Carrig Committee'. We will be featuring more on the make up of the committee and our exciting plans in the next few weeks. The committee will help guide the wider parameters of the research project and ensure we remain well connected to other regional research programmes. As we say more to follow - this is just a teaser...

Parent company the IHS has been busy setting up a 2018 calendar of programs in Birr, Offaly in the last few months. Go over to the page and see what we have been at, or better still give it a like. We have six programs happening from Birr this year - of all shapes and sizes; it is a great start for a new location...

As some may know by now @Liamog Roche returned to us this summer from Cavan Institute for excavation and post-excavation work experience. Inspired by discoveries of Norman arrowheads on Claire Cotter's 1980s excavation in the The Irish National Heritage Park Liam decided to make some of his own since leaving us! We are told there is more to come - well done Liam! #experimentalarchaeology #doityourself #homeforge #archery

Of all the programmes we have planned and delivered in the last few years we are probably most excited about this one! Working with Prof. John Feehan; visiting the beauty of the Burren (SW Ireland); staying on Clare Island (an island off the west coast); living in the stunning community of Birr Town (central Ireland); getting an in depth appreciation of Irish landscape; understanding cultural, natural and built heritage; undertaking field work in 10+ locations; getting a real insight to contemporary rural society and mindset. These are just some of the reasons to love this Institute for Field Research (IFR) program. To all our alumni and friends abroad please share this widely. It is too good an opportunity to miss out on! #landscapearchaeology #hiddenireland #environmentalscience #offthebeatentrack #realireland #irelandsancienteast #majesticmidlands #secondhome

We had a productive day today in Maynooth University. We are very proud to be teaching two programmes to Maynooth Students this year - Physical and Forensic Anthropology - which will run for the month of June. Some very engaged students, with some very good questions. Thanks to Maynooth Anthropology and Maynooth University Summer Schools for hosting us and Maddy Harris for helping out. Don't forget students can still apply for our excavation course here - https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international/short-term-programmes/archaeology-summer-school

As a Valentine's treat we were back in Wexford to start the planning for the next programme - they come around quickly! We had a great visit to the The Irish National Heritage Park, who already have the new fencing up (thank you!); new equipment arrived for the forensics course and we even squeezed a visit in to the beautiful Morriscastle Beach. As you know the March forensics programme had been full for some time and there are now only a couple of spaces available on the June program, so to avoid disappointment in the summer please book now at: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/international/short-term-programmes/forensic-anthropology

For the day that is in it! Hope those who are married or engaged can toss a pancake correctly...

Three more leave! A great last day, including a lovely pitstop in Kinnity. An obligatory visit to Clonmacnoise focused on the site of the possible ringwork for the first time ever - it often gets overlooked for the monastic heritage! I guess their time at the Irish Heritage Park Wexford has left a strong affection for ringworks! Thanks for all the work Grace DT, Liam and Chanel - we will miss you next week!