The Story Of Viking Woodstown

Discover the extraordinary story of Viking Woodstown, one of Ireland’s most significant early medieval sites. First uncovered in 2003 on the banks of the River Suir, Woodstown revealed traces of a substantial Viking stronghold—massive defensive ditches, a dwelling, and clear evidence of craftworking, trade, and daily life. These early excavations identified the site as a longphort, a Viking overwintering camp of exceptional scale.

Since 2020, a major new research project has transformed our understanding of this remarkable settlement. Using cutting-edge geophysical surveys led by experts in Ireland and Norway, researchers have uncovered striking new details about the size, layout, and development of the site. Their findings shed fresh light on how the Vikings organised this riverside stronghold and raise new questions about whether Woodstown was truly temporary—or a community with longer-term ambitions.

Join us for a fascinating, richly illustrated lecture exploring the latest discoveries and the international collaborations behind them. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain an insider’s view of a site reshaping our understanding of the Viking world.

This lecture will be led by Neil Jackman, an archaeologist and director of Abarta Heritage. Neil has a particular interest in early medieval Ireland and in public and community archaeology, a subject he has lectured in for UCD School of Archaeology. Neil authored the Conservation Management Plan for the Woodstown Viking Site in 2020, and project-manages the monument on behalf of Waterford City and County Council and an expert steering committee. Neil will be joined in the Q&A by Dr Susan Curran, lead geophysicist with the Discovery Programme, who has led a number of surveys at Woodstown.

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