Reading the Irish Landscape and Its Role in Ireland's Cultural Heritage, Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland - Institute for Field Research


Location: Birr, Offaly, Ireland

Season: 
August 11, 2019 to August 24, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
https://ifrglobal.org/program/ireland-birr-short-session/

Flyer: PDF icon syllabus-ireland-birr-landscape-two-weeks-2019.pdf

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Irish Heritage School, University College Dublin, Connecticut College, Institute for Field Research

Project Director:

Dr. Stephen Mandal, Prof. John Feehan, Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan

Project Description

Throughout human history, people have been interacting with the natural landscape, seeking food, water, shelter, and resources with which to build a better life. Understanding the landscape, how it formed, and how it has been altered by humans is an integral part of the study of archaeology. This unique, teaching-focused program has been designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the natural landscape, from the underlying bedrock to the glacial landforms, from the overlying soils to the flora and fauna they support. With this knowledge, students will be equipped to study the interaction of humans with the landscape through the millennia. The program combines field studies with laboratory work to piece together two different landscapes in two distinct locations: Birr in the midlands and the Burren in County Clare on the West coast. Staying with local families in homestay accommodations, this program also offers deeply enriching cultural immersion, guaranteeing students a truly memorable experience.

Project size: 
1-24 participants

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

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experience required.

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will be housed in Home Stay accommodation in the town of Birr, Co. Offaly. Home Stay students live with local families, and experience true home life in provincial Ireland. Students are to keep the accommodation clean and tidy at all times and to be respectful towards their Home Stay family and roommates. Students will walk (or be dropped to and collected from) a designated meeting point. Breakfast and dinner will be provided along with a packed lunch. At weekends students are encouraged to avail of their free time and explore Ireland.

Cost: 
Room and board is included in the tuition.

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$2,815

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: 

David, Bruno and Julian Thomas (2008). Handbook of Landscape Archaeology. Walnut Creek, Left Coast Press. Chapters 1, 2 and 4.  

Jones, Carleton (2004). The Burren and the Aran Islands. Exploring the Archaeology. Cork, The Collins Press.  

O’ Brien, C. 2006. Stories from a Sacred Landscape: Croghan Hill to Clonmacnoise. Mercier Press. Cork Viney, Michael (2003). Ireland. A Smithsonian Natural History. Belfast, The Blackstaff Press: Chapters 1-

8, 12 and 17.  

 

 

Recommended Further Reading/Field Reference Guides 

D’Arcy, Gordon (1992). The Natural History of the Burren. London, Immel.  

Feehan, John (2003). Farming in Ireland: History, Heritage and Environment. University College Dublin Faculty of Agriculture. 

Feehan,  John  (2004).  A  Long-Lived  Wilderness.  The  Future  of  the  North  Midland  Peatlands.  ERM  in collaboration with the National Wetlands Park Committee.  

Feehan, John (2007). Cuirrech Lifè. The Curragh of Kildare, Ireland. School of Biology and Environmental Science UCD in association with the Department of Defence. 

Feehan, John (2013). The Geology of Laois and Offaly. Offaly County Council, in association with Laois County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland.  

Feehan, John (2014). Cluain Mac Nóis i nDeilbne hEthra: The Landscape of Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, Ireland. Offaly County Council in association with Bord na Móna. 

Feehan, John (2016). The Carran and Templecronan Looped Walks. Clare’s Rock Hostel, Carran.        Feehan,  John  and  Alison  Rosse  (2005).  An  Atlas  of  Birr.  Department  of  Environmental  Resource 

Management at University College Dublin in association with Offaly County Council. 

Feehan,  John  (1979).  The  Landscape  of  Slieve  Bloom:  a  study  of  its  natural  and  human  heritage. Blackwater Press, Dublin (revised edition 2009). 

O’Connell, Jeff W. and Anne Korff (eds.) (2001). The Book of the Burren. Kinvara, TirEolas (2nd  edition). Viney, Michael (2003). Ireland. A Smithsonian Natural History. Belfast, The Blackstaff Press.