Volume 53 of Medieval Archaeology: Journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology has been released by Maney Publishing. The academic journal specializes in the medieval archaeology of Britain and Ireland.

The intricate and precise artwork of the manuscripts of 7th and 8th century England and Ireland, including the Book of Kells, has amazed artists and scholars for centuries. Now paleontologist John Cisne believes he knows how it was done. (photo)

Archaeologists working on a dig at the Cistercian Bective Abbey in Co Meath, Ireland believe they have evidence of the country's first environmentalists. The abbey monks, dependent on handouts from their neighbors, worked hard to become as self sufficient as possible.

In an article for Wired Science, reporter Alexis Madriga ponders the sorts of things that have been found in peat bogs, including canoes, bodies, murder weapons and barrels of butter. (photos)

18-year-old Conor Sandford of Kilmore, Ireland believed he was picking up a soda can ring from the hole on his father's farm. What he actually found was a 12th century silver ring, "very well-preserved, and it was relatively unworn." (photo)

A 12-year-old boy fights off Vikings to help complete the Book of Kells in a new animated adventure from Cartoon Saloon. The film was scheduled for release late winter 2009.

A new DNA study may prove a 10th century historical source which states that the western islands of Scotland were invaded by the Irish in the early 6th century. The new evidence shows "a significant Irish genetics component in Scots' ancestry." The study may also prove that the invasions occurred earlier than the 6th century.

I am needing help finding the style or armor the Irish wore in the 14th century. I am new to the SCA and I am trying to create armor for my persona so that I can start fighting. Any and all help will be appreciated. Thanks, Aengus

I am looking for any sites that show what style armor the irish wore in the 14th century. Any help would be most appreciated. I am new to the SCA and I am trying to find out what armor to create for my persona so I can start fighting. Thanks, Aengus

Join the goode folkes of the Shire of River's Bend in celebrating their 24th annual Irish Feast. This year we will be celebrating our Irish families and history with all things Irish. We invite all of the folks of the Kingdom of An Tir to bring their Irish bits, foods and skills to our feast and share. Wear your finest Irish garb and have fun.

"Growing up in North Carolina, I always knew we had a huge group of Scotch-Irish settlers in the Piedmont of the Carolinas, but I didn't understand their ancestry. Were they from Scotland or Ireland?" Jennifer Hudson Taylor looks for an answer on her blog.

The traditional Celtic crosses of Monasterboice, Ireland are crumbling away. Now experts are formulating a plan to save three of the "crosses, recognised as the best in Europe for their period."

The Sea Stallion, the replica of the Danish longship which sailed from Denmark to Ireland in 2007, is scheduled to be returned to Denmark for exhibition.

Historians believe that Scotland was colonized by Irish tribes in the 3rd and 4th centuries C.E. Magnus Linklater of the Times Online offers a glimpse of early Scottish history.

Archaeologists working at Newtwopothouse, a site near Cork, Ireland, have discovered African beads among the medieval artifacts, showing that the Irish were carrying out trade with North Africa at the time.

Excavation for a highway by-pass have unearthed evidence of a Viking trading center in Woodstown in County Waterford, Ireland. Over 5,000 artifacts have so far been discovered dating to the year 860.

In an article on his blog, writer Philip Coppens discusses the "mysterious round Irish towers," an Irish medieval architectural phenomenon. The article is entitled Round towers: needles in magical landscape?

New research at Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland points to the possibility that the stone kissed by millions may not be the "Blarney Stone" of legend.

description:
For all you Celts (even just for a day!) out there, in celebration of St. Patty's Day, an Irish Dinner & A Tourney!

When:
March 21, 2008
6:00pm to 9pm

Where:
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
15200 W 6th Ave
Golden, CO 80401
(see directions below)

Why:
Because Irish eyes are smiling, but also to welcome our newcomers!

Who:
Your autocrat for this D&T is Lady Maire Dooley Location:
Barony of Caerthe (Golden, Colorado)

Teribus (featuring Midrealm drummer Nevik) will be performing their first concert within the borders of the Barony of Fenix in the Middle Kingdom on March 22, 2008.

I am in the process of developing my persona. I have gone so far as to create a bit of background for my persona (Guinevere's parents). I have a couple of questions reguarding Guinevere's mother:

Time period: 1499 A`ine has been educated by a Welsh man, Phelip. Phelip comes to A`ine's rescue. They get married with the blessing of A`ine's Father. A`ine and Phelip move to Wales because of the growing unrest between the Protestant and Cathloic's.

A longboat, dating to the Viking era, is soon to be lifted from the River Boyne in Drogheda, Ireland. It is the first such discovery in Ireland.

On July 1, 2007, a crew of 65 men and women set sail from Denmark to Dublin on a reconstructed Viking warship called the Sea Stallion. The project's goal was to recreate the journey of the Viking raiding parties.

Ireland's historic Hill of Tara has been added to the world's 100 most-endangered heritage sites due to plans to build a motorway in close proximity to the archaeological sites.

21st century laser technology will be used over the next two years to analyze Ireland's famous Book of Kells, a 9th century gospel housed at Trinity College in Dublin. Experts hope that analysis of the pigments may shed new light on medieval Irish trade routes.

In an interview with Conor Newman, an archaeology professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Melissa Block of NPR's All Things Considered learns about the recent discovery of a celtic temple near Ireland's Tara.

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The Barony of Stromgard and the village of Bjorgvin would like to invite you the Second Grand Thing. This will be a period event focusing on Norse and Irish traditions of the Viking era with fighting, contests, games and a Grand Feast! There will be a multi-weapons tournament, a Viking raiders tournament of ships, and a monastery raid where you keep what booty you can escape with.

There will be contests in, axe/spear throwing, archery, wrestling and more. We will repeat the siege-cooking contest "Barbarians at the Gate" the Norsemen are coming! Bring whatever you need to feed 20 warriors and maybe they will go away, leftovers will be used at the feast. Many contests and games for children of all ages so come join us. Site has water, electric, and bathrooms with pay showers. Location:
Barony of Stromgard (Stevenson, Washington)

description:
Join us for Ceilidh. There will be an archery competition with moving targets, an Arts and a Science competition, and of course lots and lots of fighting. We’ll have Scottish highland games run by Lord Corwyn MacCamie and an excellent feast will be prepared by Lady Ishmala Hatun bint Johara.

There will be an Inn for lunch and Bardic in the evening.

Where: Hunt Lodge, Ft Leavenworth, KS Location:
Shire of Dun Ard (Ft Leavenworth, Kansas)

An online campaign to save the historic Hill of Tara in Ireland has been created. TaraWatch is hoping to collect enough money to pay for a professional archaeological assessment of the M3 motorway at the site.

Celtic scholar and linguist Daniel Melia believes that St. patrick may have preached his message to the Irish 50 years earlier than previously believed. The earlier time period would place the saint within provincial Roman society rather than during tribal invasions.