Episodes

In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil chats with Professor John Waddell about Celtic Ireland, discussing how our understanding of the Celts has developed, looking at the historical, archaeological and linguistic evidence, the politics of the past and present, and how the story is told today.

Celtic Ireland Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 51 with Professor John Waddell In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil chats with Professor John Waddell about Celtic Ireland, discussing how our understanding of the Celts has developed, looking at the historical, archaeological and linguistic evidence, the politics of the past and present, and how the story is told today. The Celts first appear in history in Greek and Roman sources, such as the writings of ...

Kinship, Culture and Death in Neolithic Ireland Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 50 with Dr Jessica Smyth, Dr Neil Carlin & Dr Susan Greaney In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil chats with Dr Jessica Smyth, Dr Neil Carlin and Dr Susan Greaney about their recent paper that discusses Neolithic society, kinship, ancient DNA, and how we understand and interpret the story of the past. In recent years there have been a number of studies looking at Neolithic s...

In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil is joined by Fiona who describes the recent excavation at the Green Fort in Sligo Town. We discuss the community engagement and the plans for the future of this fantastic fort!

Excavations at Rathgurreen Ringfort Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 48 with Dr Michelle Comber In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil chats with Dr Michelle Comber about her exciting recent excavations at Rathgurreen Ringfort in the Maree Peninsula of County Galway The Maree Peninsula extends into Galway Bay south of the city, and north of the Burren. It is a place full of history, with monuments spanning millennia. The peninsula is the focus of an excit...

Words on the Wave Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 47 with Maeve Sikora & Matt Seaver In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil pays a visit to the National Museum of Ireland, where he chats with Maeve Sikora and Matthew Seaver about the momentous Words on the Wave exhibition. The Words on the Wave exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland features precious manuscripts from the Abbey of St Gall, Switzerland — some returning to Ireland for the first time i...

Excavations at Rathgall Hillfort Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 46 with Dr Katharina Becker In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil is joined by Dr Katharina Becker to dig into the story of Rathgall Hillfort and the groundbreaking excavations by Professor Barry Raftery. Located in the borderlands of County Wicklow and Carlow, Rathgall is one of the most well known of Ireland’s hillforts. The story of this truly monumental site was uncovered by Professor ...

Ireland’s round towers are one of the most distinctive features of our historic landscapes. But what do we know of these iconic structures, when do they date to, and who built them? In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil is joined by archaeologist Christiaan Corlett to dig into the story.

Digging Drumanagh Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 44 with Christine Baker Underneath the quiet fields on the headland of Drumanagh in North County Dublin, lies a truly exciting story. This headland is home to one of the most important promontory forts in Ireland, where an innovative community archaeology programme is uncovering connections between Iron Age Ireland and the Roman World. Lead archaeologist Christine Baker tells us all about it in this episode of Amplify A...

Irish Hillforts Dig into the Story of Irish Hillforts in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 43 with Dr James O’Driscoll Irish Hillforts are some of our largest monuments, though until recently they remained relatively enigmatic. In recent years Dr James O’Driscoll has started to uncover their story, he tells us all about it in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast. The name ‘hillfort’ is quite descriptive, as at first glance they appear as well, large forts on top of hills. Though the w...

A wonderful community archaeology project has been underway at St Anne’s Park in Dublin City. Excavation director James Kyle tells us all about it in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast.

In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Neil chats with Dr Kerri Cleary about Professor George Eogan’s excavations at Knowth.

Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2 Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Part 2 of Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2 Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Part 2 of Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney This is the second part of an in-depth discussion with Professor Gabriel Cooney on his landmark publication – Death in Irish Prehistory. The new publication Death in Irish Prehist...

Death in Irish Prehistory Part I Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney Death in Irish Prehistory Part I Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney This is the first part of an in-depth discussion with Professor Gabriel Cooney on his landmark publication – Death in Irish Prehistory. The new publication Death in Irish Prehistory covers life and d...

Island Pilgrimage: Holy Wells, Skulls, Cures & Curses

Excavations at Caherconnell Fort Dig into the Story of a Stone Fort in the Burren in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 38 with Dr Michelle Comber Excavations at Caherconnell Fort Dig into the Story of a Stone Fort in the Burren in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 38 with Dr Michelle Comber In this fascinating discussion with Dr Michelle Comber, we discuss the excavations, the wealth of archaeology in the Burren, and generational continuity at Caherconnell Fort. We also hear from some of t...

In previous episodes of Amplify Archaeology, we’ve focused on what life was like for people, but what was life like for animals in the past? In this episode we’re joined by Dr Ruth Carden and Dr Rebecca Boyd, who tell us about an exciting new collaborative research project seeks to dig into the story of Viking dogs.

Clough Oughter Castle Con Manning joins us to discuss the archaeology of an island fortress Clogh Oughter Castle Con Manning joins us to discuss the archaeology of an island fortress In this episode, one of Ireland’s most experienced archaeologists, Con Manning, discusses the excavations at Clogh Oughter Castle. An island fortress in County Cavan. Clogh Oughter Castle consists of a strong, circular stone tower strategically (and beautifully) positioned on a small island in the middle of Lough...

A Newgrange Solstice Join us for this special archive edition for a Newgrange Solstice A Newgrange Solstice Join us for this special archive edition for a Newgrange Solstice Join us for this special archival edition of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, to hear the story of the Newgrange Solstice with Dr Jessica Smyth, Professor Gabriel Cooney, Clare Tuffy, Dr Robert Hensey and Professor Muiris O’Sullivan. At this time of the year, as the Winter Solstice approaches, many people think of Newgrange a...

Moynagh Lough Dig into the Story of this incredible legacy project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton Moynagh Lough Dig into the Story of this incredible legacy project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton Moynagh Lough is hidden away in a quiet hollow in the drumlin landscape near the village of Nobber in County Meath. From the late 19th century, hints began to emerge of it being a place of importance, but it wasn’t until the lat...

Farming Rathcroghan Discover this innovative project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 33 Farming Rathcroghan Discover this innovative project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 33 In this episode, Neil travels to one of Ireland’s most significant archaeological landscapes, Rathcroghan, to discover an important and innovative project that is helping farmers to protect the archaeology on their land. In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil had the opportunity to visit ...

Archaeological Storytelling Let’s weave a story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 32 with Paul Duffy Archaeological Storytelling Let’s weave a story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 32 with Paul Duffy Fadó fadó. Once upon a time…. all the best stories start like that. But how do you go about weaving together a compelling narrative with historical and archaeological evidence? In this episode Neil is joined by Paul Duffy to discuss archaeological storytelling. One of the most importa...

Looming large over the plains of Kildare is a large tree-lined hill. This is Dún Áilinne, believed to be one of Ireland’s ancient ‘royal sites’, and a place of significance for millennia. In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Dr. Sharon Greene climbed the storied slopes to meet the team of archaeologists who are seeking to discover Dún Ailline’s secrets.

Viking Age Ireland Dig into the Story of Viking Age Ireland in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 29 with Dr Rebecca Boyd Viking Age Ireland Dig into the Story of Viking Age Ireland in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 29 with Dr Rebecca Boyd Have you ever wondered what life was like in Viking Age Ireland. In this fascinating discussion with Dr Rebecca Boyd, we walk the streets of Viking Dublin to discuss houses, towns and trade. In the year AD 795, Ireland’s Viking Age begins with a blood...