Kilcullen Diary: Archaeologists thanked for Dún Ailinne 'passion and enthusiasm'

Friday, July 11, 2025

Archaeologists thanked for Dún Ailinne 'passion and enthusiasm'

The passion and enthusiasm of the archaeologists who have helped to keep the story of Dún Ailinne alive was highlighted at a small function in Kilcullen last evening, where presentations were made to Dr Susan Johnston of George Washington University and her team, writes Brian Byrne. The event in Fallons Snug also marked the end of the series of summer excavations on the hill, involving American archaeology students, which had begun in 2016.

Noel Clare recalled the original investigations by Professor Bernard Wailes in the 1960s and 1970s, on which he himself had worked as a young man, as 'treasured moments' which had awakened an interest in archaeology and history. "What Bernard Wailes had done, and what you have done following on from that, has brought the story alive, and kept it alive through all those years," he said. "We really appreciate that."

Slate plaques with an overhead drone image of Dún Ailinne were presented to the team, the inscription expressing the gratitude of the Kilcullen community for the work over the years, "which has enriched our understanding and deepened our connection to this sacred site." Susan Johnston was also presented with some of the original artwork for the images on the information board at the Dún Ailinne Interpretive Park, produced by Cordelia von Klot in 2007.

Des Travers making the presentation to Dr Susan Johnston.

In response, Susan described the welcome she and her team had received down the years as 'incredible'. "I hope you all know what you have contributed to this. Archaeology is hard. It's hard to get a job, it's hard to make it work, it's hard to get money. And the fact that I could do this here is incredible. You hear stories about communities that don't like archaeologists, but you kept my students, you've driven them places, you come out on the open days. I feel that I'm coming home when I come here."

She particularly referenced the support of the Thompson family in allowing the investigations to take place on their land. "I remember turning up at Robert Thompson's door when I had decided to publish Bernard Wailes's report, and when I mentioned Bernard's name, he had memories of working on the site with him. Robert has always been an incredibly strong supporter of what we were doing." Admitting that she had taken time during the day to go to one side of the hill and have a 'ten-minute cry', she said that even if her archaeology work on Dún Ailinne is finished, she will be back for visits to Kilcullen.

The gathering also took a moment to remember artist Noel Scullion, who produced the Dún Ailinne Interpretive Park sculpture, based on a spearhead found on the site, and who passed away recently.