St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme has received the Archaeological Achievement Award for Public Dissemination or Presentation at a ceremony in Belfast.
The programme honours creativity, accessibility and innovation in sharing archaeology with public.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam congratulated recipients during ceremony. The initiative launched in 2021 as key action of Dublin City Strategic Heritage Plan 2024–2029. The excavation uncovered remains of former St Anne’s mansion built by Guinness family.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam shared “This award is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and community spirit at the heart of the St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme. I had the privilege of visiting the excavation in September on the final day of the Transition Year students’ involvement and was deeply impressed by their work. The project has opened archaeology to people of all ages and backgrounds, fostering curiosity, participation, and pride in our shared heritage.”
Highlights of the 2025 programme include:
- A 25-day community excavation of St Anne’s Mansion remains, licensed by the National Monuments Service.
- A public exhibition and finds table, with archaeologists and guides sharing discoveries in real time.
- Accessibility measures, including Braille and large-text transcripts and Irish Sign Language guided tours.
- Education initiatives, from primary school tours to the new TY Tuesdays programme.
- Post-excavation workshops where volunteers will help process artefacts for deposit with the National Museum of Ireland.
- The project continues to bring people of all ages together, promoting well-being, education, cultural pride, and stewardship of Dublin’s unique heritage.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam shared: “This award is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and community spirit at the heart of the St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme. I had the privilege of visiting the excavation in September on the final day of the Transition Year students’ involvement and was deeply impressed by their work. The project has opened archaeology to people of all ages and backgrounds, fostering curiosity, participation, and pride in our shared heritage. I warmly congratulate everyone involved, the volunteers, students, professional archaeologists, and Dublin City Council teams ,on receiving this well-deserved recognition.”
