TCD and Dun Ailinne

Researchers from TCD visited the ancient royal site at Dun Ailinne recently in the course of a survey of heritage sites around the country.

The visit was led by Dr Elene Negussie, and in the course of the day they spent some time at the new Dun Ailinne Interperetive Park as well as in Kilcullen Heritage Centre.

On the Kilcullen side, they were shown around by local historian Des Travers, and Nessa Dunlea, chair of Kilcullen heritage Group.

The visitors were also given a copy of the report on the excavations on the site in the 1960/70s, published last year by Dr Susan Johnston of George Washington University and Dr Bernard Wailes of the University of Pennsylvania, who conducted those excavations.

Dr Negussie said the report had ‘been very useful in gaining further understanding of the site’.

Their visit to the site itself was courtesy of the Thompson family, on whose land it is located.