Helping to dig up Meath's past

Since its revival in 1954, the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society has been among the most active and productive in the country. Academics invariably defer to the immense contribution made by local historians and archaeologists. The late Elizabeth Hickey of Skryne Castle typified this through her long and rewarding passion for the rich history of Co Meath, producing valuable books, articles and insights.

Among the society's most distinguished former members, Hickey, an engaging and candid woman and mother of five who died on January 12th, 1999, at 81 - a couple of days after her last book, Clonard - The Story of an Early Irish Monastery 520- 1202 was printed - combined the finest qualities of a working archaeologist; imagination, curiosity and meticulous research. Another text, The Irish Life of St Finian of Clonard, was published by the society in 1995.

Riocht Na Midhe, the society's journal for 2001, is published this month and contributors include Prof George Eogan, John Bradley on David Sweetman's Medieval Castles of Ireland and Jacinta Prunty. While the articles and reviews reflect the balance of local and national interest, Eogan's piece, "Archaeology in Meath: past, present and future", is particularly valuable.

Initially delivered in the form of an address, fittingly the Elizabeth Hickey Commemorative Lecture 2000, this essay contextualises Irish, as well as Meath, archaeology. While archaeology as a science effectively dates from the 19th century, it is significant the discovery of Newgrange in 1699 predates this.

Eogan also mentions the emergence of the antiquarian tradition brilliantly represented by Sir James Ware (1594-1666), a Dublin man who collected and studied maps and charters. Imprisoned by the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, he was expelled from Dublin in 1649 and spent 18 months in France before settling in London until the Restoration in 1660.

On his return to Ireland that year, he was reappointed auditor-general and wrote on a range of antiquities. His son republished many of his works. But the three-volume Whole Works of Sir James Ware eventually appeared between 1739-1764, thanks to the efforts of his grand-daughter's husband, Walter Harris.

From such pioneering antiquarians as George Petrie, William Wilde and George Coffey, R.A.S. MacAlister and R.L. Praeger, Eogan brings the story up to the introduction of aerial photography in the 1960s. While charting discoveries and projects, including the establishment in 1992 of The Discovery programme, Eogan points out the loss from the late 1960s to 1995 of about one third of the monuments of south Meath. Recent estimates suggest about 5.5 per cent of monuments are destroyed annually. Eogan also considers the role and powers of the local authorities.

Other texts in the journal include "Sustaining community heritage: the case for political action", an oral presentation made to the Joint Dail-Seanad Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language, while Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare, writes on the "Dis-establishment of the Church of Ireland - The Meath Connection".

Riocht Na Midhe is published this month is available from bookstores. Price: £12.