Scéal Heritage Consultancy

26/08/2026

As we focus on the sidelit flash photography technique for mortuary monument recording and data extraction using LLM/AI I was reminded of the Dobhar Cú stone (https://historicgraves.com/conwal/le-cnwl-0075/grave) in Conwal, Leitrim. One of a group of figurative pieces carved in relief, in this case with a damaged image of a lake creature being slain by a hunter. We recorded it as a lidar model (https://poly.cam/capture/6B53AF21-A018-41FF-A6F4-AE3FEC17DA15) but community member Aideen Connolly, who drove that survey, used her artistic background to record and decipher the stone. I think this mixed approach – mixed media, mixed skills – is our ultimate goal - combine historians, artists and archaeologists in a community framework.

24/08/2026

70 medieval ring brooches, 40 swords and shields, 25 stained glass windows, 2 public talks, and 1 Mass in the ruins of a medieval church later.....and Heritage Week 2026 is done! This year had a large focus on heritage outreach work with young children for us, and it's always a pleasure to teach children about the amazing story of their past through craft and activity. Another wonderful year for Heritage Week, with some incredible events happening across the country throughout the week.

Thanks to The Heritage Council, Mayo County Council, Galway County Heritage Office, Ballyhaunis Friary, KILSKEAGH CHURCH & GRAVEYARD CUSTODIANS, Lackagh Museum & Heritage Centre and CreativeIrl for their help and support for the week's events.

21/08/2026

It's not every day that you get to deliver a stained glass craft workshop in front of an original Harry Clarke window - that's the beauty of Heritage Week!

21/08/2026

It's not every day that you get to deliver a stained glass craft workshop in front of an original Harry Clarke window - that's the beauty of Heritage Week! A lovely two days of children's workshops in Ballyhaunis Friary learning about the local history and making medieval ring brooches and stained glass windows.

Funding for the workshops was provided by Mayo County Council, Creative Mayo, and the Ballyhaunis Abbey Trust.

Mayo County Council The Heritage Council CreativeIrl Ballyhaunis Community Council

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

Metal Detecting & Archaeology
The use of metal detectors is very strictly regulated in Ireland?
Donegal is rich in archaeological sites and monuments. Most of these archaeological sites are in private ownership, spread across almost every townland in the county. So please help us preserve our archaeology. An "archaeological object" is very broadly defined to mean any object that has any sort of archaeological interest whatsoever, regardless of its age.

It is against the law to undertake or engage in metal detecting on or near archaeological monuments in Ireland. And It is also illegal to dig, excavate or carry out metal detection to find/ uncover archaeological features or objects anywhere, without a licence/written consent from the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Without consent you are at risk of prosecution. The onus is on the individual to ensure metal detection devices are used in accordance with the legislation.

Any finds of archaeological objects made in any circumstances other than in the course of an archaeological excavation licensed under the National Monuments Acts must be reported within 96 hours to the National Museum of Ireland or to us in Donegal County Museum and may not be removed or interfered with other than to preserve it or keep them safe.

Archaeological monuments are protected in a number of ways under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.

National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004

National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994

National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987

National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1954

National Monuments Act 1930

EIA of Proposed Demolition of National Monuments Regulations 2012

S.I. 229/2005 - National Monuments Act 1930 (Section 14B) Regulations 2005

S.I. 114/2013 (EIA re Approved Road Developments)

For National Museum guidance on this see https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/the-law-on-metal-detecting-in-ireland


Heritage Week National Monuments Service - Archaeology National Museum of Ireland The Heritage Council Donegal County Council

18/08/2026

Just a couple of places left now on our Heritage Week children's stained glass craft workshop at 2pm in Ballyhaunis Friary this Friday 21st August. Our 10.30am session is now fully booked. Contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to book one of the last spots!

These workshops are supported by Mayo County Council and the Ballyhaunis Abbey Trust.

Mayo County Council Ballyhaunis Community Council Ballyhaunis Community Consultation Hub

17/08/2026

Looking forward to taking part in Kilskeagh Heritage Committee's Heritage Week talk on the Old Kilskeagh Church and Graveyard site in the Lackagh Parish Centre (Eircode H65 EK52) this Wednesday 19th August at 7pm. We'll be giving an overview of the site and an update in our role as project archaeologist, outlining the progress to date. Since 2023, dedicated community clearance work of this previously lost and inaccessible site has uncovered an important multi-period archaeological landscape. This includes the ruins of a medieval church, a community graveyard and cillín in use for several generations, and a large number of foundations for previously unrecorded structures associated with either the medieval church or the early modern market town which was said to previously exist in the area.

We'll be joined by Dr. Breda Lynch (researcher and author) who will present "Kilskeagh Church and The Witches' Castle: Reconstructing a Lost History", which will explore the possible origins of this historic site and some very interesting theories linking the castle and the church.

The Committee would love to hear from any locals on the night who could give information on their memories or stories of the site. The talk is free to attend and all are very welcome!

17/08/2026

Another great year of the Athenry Walled Towns event yesterday, which celebrated its 20th anniversary. We were there for some children's medieval ring brooch workshops, and Athenry hadn't seen so many ring brooch-wearers for quite a few centuries!