Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Archaeology of the Irish Revolution

About the project

The archaeology of Ireland's War of Independence and Civil War is one of the most engaging heritage resources in the country. It is also among the most understudied and at risk archaeological resources on the island. The potential of archaeological approaches to illuminate the events of the period and to speak powerfully of the texture of human emotion and experience has therefore not been fully realised. 

Taking East Limerick as a study area, this project demonstrates the research value and community-building potential of revolutionary-period heritage in several interlinked strands of research:
Small metal cross marking the location where Hugh O’Donnell, just 19 years old, was killed in the Civil War

Mapping revolutionary heritage

In collaboration with local communities, revolutionary-era heritage has been identified, mapped and recorded to create an interactive (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)StoryMap and a database of sites. These help us to understand how revolutionary events unfolded and consider how best to safeguard this heritage for the future. An Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide on "The Archaeology of Revolution in East Limerick" is available (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)here. A guidance document ("Researching and Protecting the Archaeological Heritage of the Easter Rising, War of Independence and Civil War") to help heritage professionals and local communities in other parts of the country undertake their own research on the archaeology of the revolutionary period is available (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)here.

Small metal cross marking the location where Hugh O’Donnell, just 19 years old, was killed in the Civil War

Farm building beneath which a brick-lined arms dump was built in the War of Independence

Oral histories of revolution

Interviews have been conducted to record oral histories of the conflict; to understand how communities engage with the material residues of difficult histories; and to consider how such residues offer the potential for social repair in the present.

Farm building beneath which a brick-lined arms dump was built in the War of Independence

Behind a wooden shutter in a home in Ballylanders, a rifle bullet can still be seen embedded in the masonry

The material culture of the revolution

Collections in National Museum of Ireland, Limerick Museum and Kilmainham Gaol as well as family memorabilia have been examined to explore how artefacts are incorporated into practices of meaning-making and remembrance today.

Behind a wooden shutter in a home in Ballylanders, a rifle bullet can still be seen embedded in the masonry, a reminder of the attack on the RIC barracks there in 1920

used cigarette on a piece of paper

Exhibiting the revolution

Co-curation of pop-up exhibitions with the local community and with refugee groups have explored the potential of artefacts to tell new and different stories; to consider contemporary resonances; and to enhance understanding of others’ experience, memories and histories. Our first exhibition on the "Objects of the Revolution in East Limerick" is available (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)here.

Patrick Maher's last cigarette. Maher was wrongly convicted of involvement in the Knocklong rescue and was executed just before the Truce in 1921. 

Other Project Outputs
Harte, A., Murray, N. and Brück, J. 2024. Civil War graffiti: a glimpse into revolutionary lives. In O'Keeffe H, Crowley J, Ó Drisceoil D, Borgonovo J, Murphy M. (eds), (opens in a new window)Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New perspectives. Cork: Cork University Press.

Project team

Project partners

Project Advisers

Funding

The project is funded by the(opens in a new window) Research Ireland COALESCE Scheme (2022–2024; Strand 1L INSTAR+).

Research_Ireland_RGB_logo_black.png (4246×872)

Contact UCD School of Archaeology

Newman Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 8312 | E: archaeology@ucd.ie