World Heritage move is step towards Dun Ailinne recognition

The inclusion of Dun Ailinne on the World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland is a step towards the ancient royal site gaining the world recognition it deserves, writes Brian Byrne. That's the view of anthropologist Dr Susan Johnston (listen to the clip above) who has led archaeological investigations at Dun Ailinne since 2006.

Speaking to the Diary this week before she returned to the US on the completion of another summer dig with American-based archaeological students, she commended the 'fantastic' work that Kildare Heritage Officer Bridget Loughlin had put in to get Dun Ailinne to this stage of the World Heritage process, along with her counterparts in the joint promotion of the Hill of Uisneach in Co Westmeath; the Rock of Cashel, Co Tipperary; Rathcroghan, County Roscommon; and Tara in County Meath for inclusion on the list.

Dr Johnston said the results of this year's excavations 'went very well' despite the challenges when some of the students got Covid.

The students come here under the auspices of the Blackfriary Archaeological Field School, based in Co Meath, and Dr Johnston says that having them come each summer has literally allowed the investigations on Dun Ailinne to continue in recent years. "Money for archaeology is hard to come by, and having students willing to pay fees to come has meant that we can afford to do the research."

She says investigating the current structures discovered under the top layers of the site will probably continue for another two summers. "Then we'll have to see where we go. You could spend a lifetime here — the site is huge and there's tons of stuff up there."

NOTE: The Dun Ailinne site is on private land and a working farm, and is not open to the public. Permission for any visit to it must be obtained from the Thompson family, who have kindly facilitated the investigations to date. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy