Unearthing the past gives hope for future in Trim

Archaeology students from as far away as Australia and the United States have been taking part in archaeological digs at the Blackfriary Monastery in Trim as part of a locally based international field school. More than 50 students from all over the world have been involved in digs at the Trim site as part of field work research and the Irish Archaological Field School is hoping to expand the programme further in future years. The site investigations at Blackfriary are being led by Finola O'Carroll of the Irish Archaeology Field School and are supported by Trim Town Council, which has carried out some clearing works at the site. The investigations to uncover the history of the medieval monastery are being carried out voluntarily by the field school and students from Ireland and all over the world have been gaining valuable experience for their studies through the programme. Local TD and Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, Meath County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher, and Trim Town Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Trevor Golden, were among those who visted the site last week to witness at first-hand the work that is ongoing. Ms O'Carroll explained that the field school programme has huge potential to attact international students into the area and that they are also looking at the possibility of developing a language programme. Investigations took place at Blackfriary throughout the month of June when the site was mapped and two cuttings were excavated. The archaeologists so far have located the monastery's cemetery, some walls, part of what is believed to be a stairwell of the Belfry and the location of the cloister. The Blackfriary Monastery was a Dominican monastery founded by Geoffrey de Geneville in 1263 and was located just outside the the town walls. Ms O'Carroll explained that the monastery was "as big or bigger than Bective". It is believed the building stone was sold from the monastery during the 1700s and 1800s and that the site effectively became a quarry. The outer stones were ripped off and sold and Ms O'Carroll said that parts of Trim were probably built with it. The rest was left and tumbled down after it lost its structural integrity and collapsed. Ms O'Carroll believes that if the site is uncovered, it could be presented to the public. Once investigations are carried out at the furthest point of the site to see how much archaeology is there, Ms O'Carroll said it could be released back for local use and suggested that allotments and a playground could also be developed there. The Irish Archaeology Field School has also been carrying out digs at Bective and Rossnaree and hope to carry out digs at Loughcrew and Tara in the future. All of the students have been staying locally in and around Trim and Ms O'Carroll said the idea of a language school would also be a real opportunity to attract people to the area. She added that students like the idea of not being based in Dublin and said Trim has so much to offer. She added that they hope to look to Meath Partnership for funding for a feasibility study and marketing funding to develop the initiative further. Mr Dempsey said: "It is fascinating and there is enormous potential for the town and for the county in general. The school hopes to bring students on a regular basis to these archaology digs at various sites and they are hoping to incorporate a language school. There are great tourism benefits and it has huge potential." Cllr Dillon Gallagher said it was fantastic that the students had come from different parts of Europe to take part in unearthing the historical lives of the monasteries which were in abundance in Meath. "It is wonderful that they are not just unearthing our historical buildings but that we are also learning about the people," she said. The Trim Town Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Golden, said the digs were very welcome and hoped they would in the future be able to open the site up to the public and let people know what is on their doorstep. Gabrielle Gill from Maryland, USA, will spend a month with the field school. She said: "It is really amazing. I am learning a lot. I study archaelogy in New York." Cristina Bialla from Italy is spending a week with the school and said it is great to be able to compare the Irish system and the Italian system and said that she, too, is learning a lot. Shaina Rae from Pennsylvania has been in Ireland for a month and is studying anthropology, archaeology and art history. The field school work is an integral part of her research for her studies. Shaina said she was excited to find lead bracing from a stain glass window that she did not think would have existed at that time.