Pre-anncounement of Summer Conference
14-15th June 2013
Hotel Kilkenny, College Road, Kilkenny
‘Irish Food Products – A Historical Perspective’
A.T. Lucas, Director of the National Museum wrote in 1960/1962 that ‘…from prehistory to the close of the 17th century, corn and milk were the mainstay of the national food’
What is the basis for this proposition, and is it still seen to be broadly correct?
Preliminary programme, subject to change
FRIDAY 14th June: 15.00-19.00
Registration/tea and coffee: 14.00-15.00
Liam Downey (University College Dublin) and Ingelise Stuijts (The Discovery Programme)
Introduction lecture ‘Overview of current knowledge’
Session 1: Dairy products
David Dickson (Trinity College Dublin): Dairy products in former times
Jessica Smyth (Bristol University): The origins of dairying in Ireland
Patricia Lysaght (University College Dublin): Folklore associated with food products in Ireland
Dinner 20.00-22.00 hrs
SATURDAY 15th June: 9.00-15.00
Session 2: Cereal products
Michael O’Connell (NUI Galway): Cereal production in ancient Ireland:
evidence from the fossil pollen records
Susan Lyons (University College Cork)/Meriel McClatchie (University College Dublin):
Cereal production in past and nutrition value
Mick Monk (University College Cork): From field to food in Ireland’s past:
the processing and nutritional value of cereals with particular reference to oats
Session 3: Meat products
Finbar McCormick (Queen’s University Belfast): Archaeological evidence for meat consumption
Regina Sexton (University College Cork): Meat products in former times
Fiona Beglane (Sligo IT): Archaeological evidence of meat use and its nutritional values
Niamh Daly (University College Cork)/Jacqueline Cahill Wilson (Discovery Programme): Application of geochemistry: Isotope analyses using Strontium, Oxygen, Carbon and Nitrogen
Closing session
Colin Rynne (University College Cork): Industrial archaeology with particular regard to brewing and distilling
Lunch: 14.00-15.00
Excursion St Francis Abbey Brewery, Parliament Street, Kilkenny: 15.30-17.00 hrs
Conference Costs (including tea/coffee and lunch on Saturday):
Non-members: €60
Members: €50
Students: €30
Optional: Conference dinner 14th June €30 in Hotel Kilkenny
Optional: Excursion costs: €8
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Hotel Kilkenny offers a special rate for conference delegates (available until 14th May)
- Friday 14th June: €70 (single) €100 (double/twin) including breakfast
- Saturday 15th June: €70 (single) €100 (double/twin) including breakfast
OR €120 if taking a 2 night stay in a single room
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To register – contact []
or send details to
Eoin Flaherty,
2.09 Iontas,
National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis,
National University of Ireland Maynooth,
Co. Kildare
Further information: 086-4090050/087-6213605