Ritual Pilgrim Landscape of Disert, Ireland - Institute for Field Research


Location: Ireland

Season: 
June 23, 2019 to July 20, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
https://ifrglobal.org/program/ireland-disert/

Flyer: PDF icon syllabus-ireland-disert-2019.pdf

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Institute for Technology, Siglo, California State University, Los Angeles, Connecticut College, Institute for Field Research

Project Director:

Dr Fiona Beglane, and Dr René Vellanoweth

Project Description

Disert is a ritual pilgrim landscape in Co. Donegal that includes a series of early ecclesiastical enclosures, penitential cairns, a holy well dedicated to St Colmcille (also known as St Columba), a post-medieval altar and a cillín (children’s graveyard). It may date to as early as the sixth century AD when it was reputedly founded by St Colmcille or may even extend back into prehistory.  Disert is still important today for religious devotion and for pilgrims seeking miraculous cures for medical conditions.

This spectacular area lies at the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains, some 10km from Donegal Town and the Wild Atlantic Way. Rural sites such as this are poorly understood and the excavation will offer the opportunity to examine the role of Disert in both early and more recent Irish Christianity.

2019 will be the first year of excavation so the focus will be on understanding the dating and origin of the site as well as the nature of features previously identified by fieldwalking, drone survey and geophysics.  Students will be working closely with members of the local community and with Irish students to begin to unpick this fascinating story. They will gain experience of excavating, recording and surveying sites and in the evenings will be introduced to Irish culture, society and hospitality.

Project size: 
1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants must stay entire duration of the field school.

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experienced required.

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will be housed in purpose-built holiday homes in a mixture of single and twin-bedded rooms, which will be allocated using a random draw at the welcome meeting. Those sharing rooms will do so with others of the same gender. Fresh bed linen and regular cleaning of communal areas will be provided.  Students should provide their own towels. There is a washing machine in each house.

The accommodation has a tennis court for the use of guests, there is a rocky shore approximately 10 minutes walk from the accommodation and a sandy beach 20 minutes walk away.

Three meals per day (breakfast/lunch/dinner) are included from Monday to Friday plus the welcome meal on the first Sunday evening. Tea, coffee, water and biscuits (cookies) will also be provided on site during the excavation. Students will need to prepare and bring their own packed lunch daily from groceries supplied by the project. A large tent will be provided on-site to store bags and for shelter at mealtimes if necessary. Evening meals will be prepared by a professional chef and will always include at least one option that contains meat, fish or poultry plus at least one vegetarian option. Students will be required to assist with washing up after meals. If you have any particular dietary needs or allergies then contact us in advance.

Cost: 
Three meals per day (breakfast/lunch/dinner) are included from Monday to Friday plus the welcome meal on the first Sunday evening.

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$4,445

Location

Contact Information
Institute for Field Research
2999 Overland Ave. Suite 103
Los Angeles
California
United States
90064
info@ifrglobal.org
Telephone: 
4242091173
Recommended Bibliography: 

Beglane, F, Bonsall, J, Moran, J, Nugent, L and Meehan, H. In Press. ‘An oasis in the desert: the early ecclesiastical site of Disert, Co. Donegal’. Journal of Irish Archaeology, 27.

Doherty, C. ‘Late medieval Donegal’ in Nolan, W, Ronayne, L and Dunleavy, M (Eds.) 2004 Donegal: History & Society. Dublin: Geography Publications. p183-201.

Hunter, RJ. ‘The plantation in Donegal’ in Nolan, W, Ronayne, L and Dunleavy, M (Eds.) 2004 Donegal: History & Society. Dublin: Geography Publications. p283-324

O'Sullivan, A, McCormick, F, Kerr, T and Harney, L. 2014. Early medieval Ireland AD400 - 1100: the evidence from archaeological excavations. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 (p47-215)

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Beglane, F, Burke, J, Meehan, G, Meehan H, Meehan R and Ward M. 2018. Disert in the Blue Stacks. Disert Heritage Group, Donegal.

Beglane, F, Meehan, H and Nugent, L 2016, Conservation Management Plan for the Ecclesiastical Enclosure and Pilgrim Landscape of Disert, Inver Parish, Co Donegal. Submitted to the Heritage Council. https://disertheritage.com/conservation-management-plan/

Lacey, B 2006. Cenél Conaill and the Donegal Kingdoms AD500-800. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

Harbison, P 1991. Pilgrimage in Ireland: the monuments and people. Syracuse University Press, New York.

Nolan, W, Ronayne, L and Dunleavy, M (Eds.) 1995. Donegal: History & Society. Geography Publications, Dublin.

Ó Carragáin, T 2010. Churches in early medieval Ireland. Yale University Press, London and New Haven.

O'Sullivan, J and Ó Carragáin, T 2008. Inishmurray: monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Collins Press, Cork.

Stout, M 1997. The Irish Ringfort. Paperback. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

Stout, M 2017. Early Medieval Ireland 431-1169. Wordwell, Dublin