09/04/2026
The Friends of Medieval Dublin are delighted to be contributing to the Culture Date with Dublin 8 programme (4th - 10th May 2026). We're running three free walking tours (filling up fast!) so book quickly if you're interested in joining.
Book via our eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culture-date-with-dublin-8-friends-of-medieval-dublin-walking-tour-tickets-1986454688447
You can check out the rest of the programme here: https://www.culturedatewithdublin8.ie/
Culture Date with Dublin 8 – Culture, History and Heritage in Dublin 8
Culture Date with Dublin 8 is a neighbourhood initiative celebrating the culture, history, heritage and people of Dublin 8! Festival 4th - 10th May, 2026
26/02/2026
A reminder of an event organised by our good friends at Dublinia taking place Friday 27th March. Bringing together a number of experts this is sure to be a fascinating event. Be sure to secure your tickets!
A Settlement on the Suir: New Insights into Viking Woodstown
A Ticketed Public Lecture
Discover the extraordinary story of Viking Woodstown, one of Ireland’s most significant early medieval sites. First uncovered in 2003 on the banks of the River Suir, Woodstown revealed traces of a substantial Viking stronghold—massive defensive ditches, a dwelling, and clear evidence of craftworking, trade, and daily life. These early excavations identified the site as a longphort, a Viking overwintering camp of exceptional scale.
Since 2020, a major new research project has transformed our understanding of this remarkable settlement. Using cutting-edge geophysical surveys led by experts in Ireland and Norway, researchers have uncovered striking new details about the size, layout, and development of the site. Their findings shed fresh light on how the Vikings organised this riverside stronghold and raise new questions about whether Woodstown was truly temporary—or a community with longer-term ambitions.
Join us for a fascinating, richly illustrated lecture exploring the latest discoveries and the international collaborations behind them. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain an insider’s view of a site reshaping our understanding of the Viking world.
When: Friday the 27th of March from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, Q & A from 7.00pm to 7.30pm led by Archaeologist Linzi Simpson with wine reception to follow.
Where: Dublinia Viking and Medieval Museum
Tickets: Tickets cost €15 and can be booked here https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-story-of-viking-woodstown-tickets-1976608868334?aff=oddtdtcreator&_eboga=1070593453.1759991975
Neil Jackman is an archaeologist and director of Abarta Heritage. Neil has a particular interest in early medieval Ireland and in public and community archaeology, a subject he has lectured in for UCD School of Archaeology. Neil authored the Conservation Management Plan for the Woodstown Viking Site in 2020, and project-manages the monument on behalf of Waterford City and County Council and an expert steering committee. Neil will be joined in the Q&A by Dr Susan Curran, lead geophysicist with the Discovery Programme, who has led a number of surveys at Woodstown.
Professor Clare Downham studied at St Andrews and Cambridge. She worked as a research scholar in Dublin and as a lecturer in Celtic and History in Aberdeen before starting at Liverpool in 2010. Her publications have focused on Viking Age history and contact across the Irish Sea in the Middle Ages. Her most recent book ‘Medieval Ireland AD400-1500’ was published by Cambridge University Press. She is currently under contract with Penguin Classics to produce a volume on Viking Age Britain and Ireland.
The Story Of Viking Woodstown
Viking Woodstown revealed a vast longphort; surveys show a complex, evolving site. Join us to explore fresh insights into its true nature.
29/10/2025
For those looking for a medieval Dublin fix this November ...
CHRIST CHURCH LECTURES MARK 800 YEARS OF LAURENCE O’TOOLE AS PATRON SAINT OF DUBLIN
To mark the 800th anniversary of the canonization of St Laurence O’Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail) in 1225, Dublin’s Christ Church cathedral will host a series of free lunchtime lectures on the Tuesdays in November 2025 at 1.10pm entitled ‘St Laurence O’Toole and the medieval Gaelic world’ which will examine the early years of St Laurence’s life.
The lectures take place in the chapter house building upstairs in the music or Henry Roe room, and is at present only accessible by stairs.
Delivered by Dr Jesse Harrington, the first lecture will take place on Tuesday 4 November, and will introduce the world of St Laurence in the twelfth-century, setting him in the context of Ireland and Europe in the medieval period.
Dr Jesse Harrington is currently a Research Ireland Pathway Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies’ School of Celtic Studies, where he is preparing a new critical biography and edition of the medieval and early modern manuscript sources concerning St Laurence O’Toole.
Subsequent lectures will take place on
(Tuesday 11 November) this will examine the Christening of Laurence, the importance of baptism as a Christian sacrament, godparents and Gaelic and Latin naming customs.
(Tuesday 18 November) this raises biblical themes of captivity through the story of Laurence being held hostage by his future brother-in-law, the famous king of Leinster, Dermot McMurrough (Diarmait MacMurchada).
(Tuesday 25 November) this views Laurence as abbot of Glendalough and his leadership role in the important twelfth-century reform of the Irish church.
Thanks are particularly due to the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin for their generous support of the lecture series; to the dean, CEO and director of music for allowing the use of the space, and to the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and Research Ireland (Taighde Éireann). The lectures follow in a long line of lunchtime series running since 1997, as well as a memorial series to former dean’s verger, Joe Coady (1987-2003), and a much older annual St Stephen’s day lectures begun by cathedral architect, Sir Thomas Drew, which ran from 1891 until at least the 1960s.
For further information on this series, email the cathedral research advisor, Dr Stuart Kinsella at [email protected].
03/10/2025
It is almost here! The 26th Medieval Dublin Symposium will take place THIS Saturday 4 October 2025 as part of the Dublin festival of History. Join us at the Robert Emmet Theatre (Room 2037), Trinity College Dublin, from 9am-5pm for a day of exploring medieval Dublin. Free and all welcome! 🥳🧐
9.30–9.45 Introduction
9.45–10.25 Update on the Viking settlement at Ballyfermot from 2025 excavations - Antoine Giacometti
10.25–11.00 Danes in medieval Ireland: a re-examination of the evidence - Russell Ó Riagáin
11.00–11.30 Break
11.30–12.10 Death on the Poddle: revisiting the Viking Age burials of Duiblinn - Samuel Kinirons
12.10–12.45 In search of Kilmainham Castle: locating traces of the Knights Hospitaller priory - Barry Kehoe
12.45–14.00 Lunch
14.00–14.40 Swords Castle terrae: a system of medieval wells - Ida La Fratta
14.40–15.15 Viking Dublin: city of frizzy-haired women - Catherine Swift
15.15–15.45 Break
15.45–16.20 Raising the stakes: concluding excavations of the medieval foreshore at Hammond Lane - Chris Coffey
16.20-17.00 NAISC and VRTI: new digital projects throwing light on medieval Dublin - John Marshall and Lynn Kilgallon
https://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/26th-medieval-dublin-symposium/
29/09/2025
It is almost here! The 26th Medieval Dublin Symposium will take place Saturday 4 October 2025 as part of the Dublin festival of History. Join us at the Robert Emmet Theatre (Room 2037), Trinity College Dublin, from 9am-5pm for a day of exploring medieval Dublin. Free and all welcome! 🥳🧐See programme here: https://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/26th-medieval-dublin-symposium/
08/09/2025
The Medieval Dublin Symposium is back!
Join us Saturday 4 October 2025 as part of the Dublin Festival of History.
It will take place in the Robert Emmet Theatre (Room 2037), Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin and no booking is required. All welcome!
Check out the programme here: https://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/26th-medieval-dublin-symposium/
15/08/2025
Welcome Medieval Dublin XX ⚜️⚔️🏰
This wonderful new book edited by Seán Duffy is the TWENTIETH volume in the Medieval Dublin series!
The book presents a rich variety of new scholarly explorations of life in medieval Dublin by multiple skilled contributors.
📚 Available in hardback and paperback.
So, what are you waiting for? Order your copy from our website now! https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2024/medieval-dublin-xx
Publishing Ireland DU History Matthew Lewis Medievalists.net Friends of Medieval Dublin LoveClontarf.ie
27/03/2025
ST. AUDOEN'S IS OPEN!
We are delighted to announce that St. Audoen's Church and Visitor Centre is back open for visitors.
The 2025 season will run until early November, admission is FREE and we'll be open every day from 9.30am until 5.30pm (last admission at 4.45pm).
19/10/2025
29/09/2025
08/09/2025
15/08/2025
12/06/2025
27/03/2025