Pilot archaeology event to launch at St Anne’s Park this Saturday

A new programme aimed at educating people on the archaeology of Dublin City has been launched by Dublin City Council.

On Saturday, September 18 St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Pilot Programme will be officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland.

This day includes a living history display and The Big Dig, a replica Viking house and workshop excavation that give children the chance to experience being an architect.

Speaking about the programme, the Lord Mayor said: “St. Anne’s Park became a municipal park in the 1950s.

“At 107ha it is the largest municipal park in the city and one which the residents of north Dublin city and beyond have formed a deep connection with across the generations.

“Through this free community archaeology programme, supported by the Heritage Council and Creative Ireland, communities will have an opportunity to participate in this wide-ranging programme and discover the rich cultural history of the park and the city’s archaeological heritage in a number of engaging ways.”

Leslie Moore, City Parks Superintendent, said St Anne’s Park is a valuable amenity for various groups.

“Dublin City Council’s Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services Division has invested significantly in St. Anne’s Park as a public amenity for diverse groups of people and past-times and as an important historic designed landscape.

“In recent years we have conserved key historical features of the park including the Red Stables, the Annie Lee Bridge folly and more recently Greek revival floor tiles discovered in the Herculaneum Temple.

“This summer we carried out archaeological testing of the remains of St. Anne’s house.

“We are eager to share with the public discoveries from this testing and celebrate St. Anne’s as a unique 19th-century designed landscape with this innovative Community Archaeology Programme of events.”

The St Anne’s Community Archaeology Pilot Programme runs from September to November and comprises a series of events both in the park and online, designed to highlight the rich history, architecture and archaeology of the park and surrounding area.

The programme is tailored to all levels of knowledge and interest, with events suitable for all ages. It is designed to be inclusive, accessible, and suitable for a wide audience and is free of charge for all participants.