Over the past number of years there has been an increasing desire among communities to engage directly with the archaeology, heritage and traditions of their local area. The term ‘community archaeology’ is generally understood as the communities of today engaging with the people of the past through a variety of means—excavation, surveys, studies and dissemination. As can be seen in this publication, projects undertaken under the banner of community archaeology are varied and can include field-walking, building surveys, oral history projects, graveyard surveys, art projects, archive research, geophysical, landscape and topographic surveys, conservation and excavation. The common thread has been that of reconnecting people with their past and encouraging new communities to connect with their localities, thereby creating awareness and ensuring the protection of the archaeological resource. 

An impetus for this publication was to highlight the quality of work being under-taken across the country. Dissemination of results is an important aspect of the archaeol-ogical process and, while many of the community groups have undertaken innovative and participative events locally, it is important that there should be a national overview. With an all-island approach, it becomes clear through the range of projects and the diversity of participants and audiences that there is widespread interest in sharing in community archaeology initiatives. This publication encompasses geophysical surveys, 3D projects, landscape surveys, heritage-based tourism, public art and community excavations and gives voice to a wide range of perspectives, from the community itself to institutional overviews.

Christine Baker, a graduate of University College Dublin, is the Heritage Officer for Fingal County Council. She is also the author of Antiquities of old Fingal and The archaeology of Killeen Castle, Co. Meath.

CONTENTS

1. What lies beneath: geophysical surveying and community archaeology in Kilberry, Co. Meath

Ciara Reynolds

2. Digital counties—building a framework for community-focused 3D digital heritage projects

Gary Dempsey and Orla-Peach Power

3. Engaging the community: the Kilcashel Landscape Project

James Bonsall

4. Ogham in 3D and community participation

Nora White and Isabel Bennett

5. The Medieval Bray Project: investigations at Raheenacluig church, Newcourt, Bray, Co. Wicklow

David McIlreavy 

6. Resurrecting Monuments—St Doulagh’s and Tower Hill: philosophy to results

Aidan Giblin and Michael Mongey

7. Gallows Hill Community Archaeology Project

Christina Knight-O’Connor and Eddie Cantwell

8. A brief narrative of the first community archaeology project in Sailortown, Belfast 

Liz Thomas and Patrick Benson 

9. Community archaeology and the Hill of Slane

Conor Brady

10. Community archaeology in the Sliabh Aughty uplands

Christy Cunniffe

11. From mummified ‘Barbies’ to meteorites: fourteen years of the Belfast Young Archaeologists’ Club 

Naomi Carver and Eileen Murphy

12. The Adopt-a-Monument experience

Neil Jackman

13. The Ulster Scots Archaeological Services Project—encouraging community engagement with the study of Plantation-era archaeology

James Lyttleton and Neil Macnab

14. Blackfriary, Trim: the field school experience

Finola O’Carroll, Rachel E. Scott, Laura Corrway and Ian Kinch

15. The work of the Ulster Archaeological Society Survey Group and the National Trust 

Grace McAlister, Malachy Conway and Harry Welsh

16. Rathcroghan Visitor Centre—community custodians of Cruachan Aí

Daniel Curley 

17. Creating communities: a local authority model

Christine Baker

18. All Bread is Made of Wood: This Dirt—a public art intervention at Swords Castle

Caroline Cowley, Fiona Hallinan, Sabina MacMahon, Dr Meriel McClatchie and Anne Mullee  

19. Bust to boom: an inverse equation?

Paul Duffy

20. ‘Little concerted effort’ or the ‘tyranny of participation’? Thoughts on community archaeology in Ireland

Ian W. Doyle