'Bitter sweet' for ATU team as Archaeology Journal publishes Donegal man's work posthumously

The archaeology team at ATU Sligo have described the bitter-sweet moment when they cast their eyes on the latest volume of the Journal of Irish Archaeology.

The journal contains a paper by the late Eugene Anderson, who is a graduate of their BSc (Hons) in Applied Archaeology, based on his final year dissertation on cillíní (children’s burial grounds) in County Donegal.

Locally, he was very much part of the ongoing Disert heritage archaeological dig and had secured his perfect job at Donegal Castle, just shortly before his untimely passing. In more recent times, he had also been involved at the briefer rescue archaeology dig on the grounds of the old Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon, which is now undergoing a large expansion as the south Donegal community hospital.  

62-year-old-Eugene, from Rossylongan in Donegal Town and formerly of Ardnagannagh, Crossroads, Killygordon, had completed his dissertation in 2021. In January of this year, he linked up with his ATU dissertation supervisor, Dr Marion Dowd, to expand on the original work.

Eugene's work appears in the latest edition of the Journal of Irish Archaeology

"This was Eugene’s first publication. He was delighted it had been accepted for publication by the Journal of Irish Archaeology and was looking forward to seeing his research in print. And then tragedy struck. Eugene died suddenly in June this year, shortly after starting a new job in Donegal Castle.  

A page from the prestigious Journal which had been penned by Eugene before he passed away suddenly in June 

The posting added from the ATU team paid tribute to the Donegal man: "We take this opportunity to remember Eugene today and to acknowledge the important research he carried out on the cillíní of Donegal.

"This paper is one of many contributions he made to Irish archaeology during his short time in the profession. May his publication serve to inspire others, as he himself did during his life."