Kilkenny school pupils celebrate European Archaeology Day

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan welcomed over 500 children from primary schools in Kilkenny to the grounds of the Heritage Council on Friday, June 14 for a feast of archaeology, exploration and discovery. It marks the opening of the 15th European Archaeology Days, an annual pan-European celebration of the discipline of archaeology, this is the Heritage Council's second time to represent Ireland in the programme.

Ten heritage specialists from the Heritage Council's Heritage in Schools Scheme will be on site to reveal the secrets of the past and of the profession of archaeology to pupils. Around 500 pupils from Mother of Fair Love, Kilkenny Project School, St John’s, St Canice’s and Clara National Schools participated in the event.

Throughout the day, children learned about the everyday lives of 'Children in the Past' through handling ancient artefacts; they were given an insight into weapons and war during the medieval era; and through storytelling around St Canice’s Cathedral, they discovered how people lived in this part of Kilkenny in medieval times.

A group of archaeologists specialising in prehistoric wetland archaeology will also be on site to carve a replica of the Kilbeg figure, an Early Bronze Age humanlike figure found in Ballykean Bog, Co. Offaly. The original Kilbeg figure is dated to 1740–1531 BC.

Speaking at the event today, Minister Noonan said: "It is incredibly uplifting to be at the Heritage Council today and to witness the thirst for knowledge our primary school children have for Kilkenny’s archaeological history.

"It is appropriate that we join our partners in Europe to celebrate archaeology this year in particular, as Government continues to copper-fasten its importance through the Heritage Ireland 2030 strategy, the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill and through our work with the National Monuments Service," remarked Mr Noonan.

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CEO of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan commented: "Today is a wonderful synergy of so much that is important for the Heritage Council. With our HQ in Kilkenny, the event is a local one but we celebrate in harmony with partners all across
Europe today and throughout the weekend who are also taking this opportunity to showcase all that is laudable about archaeology.

"Our heritage specialists, who bring the magic of heritage to primary school children all year round through our Heritage in Schools programme, will be sure to spark the interest and enthusiasm of our future historians, archaeologists and craftspeople today with their engaging activities," she concluded.