Viking Burials and Grave Goods in Kilmainham/Islandbridge

During the construction of the railway and now Heuston station in the 1840s, workers would uncover a vast array of Viking graves and gravegoods in the local area.

This discovery was further complemented by later discoveries around the War Memorial Gardens. Richly furnished with weapons, equipment and jewellery, these finds give us a glimpse into the Viking World in the 9th and 10th centuries. Nearly two thirds of all known grave goods could be attributed to the Kilmainham – Islandbridge cemeteries. For example, Viking swords were often highly decorated with details such as silver-plating, twisted silver, gold wires and copper plating.

This talk will discusses not only what the finds were during the multiple discoveries over three centuries but what we can glean from them. How were these finds found and catalogued? What sort of Viking community are we seeing presented? How does this match the annals? Finally, what does this tell us about the interactions between the native Irish population and the Vikings?
Ellen Barnicle is the Head Guide of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, founded as a nursing and retirement home for predominantly Irish veterans of the British Armed Forces in 1684. A Dublin native, she holds an undergraduate degree in Classical Civilisation and Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin and a MA degree in Archaeology from Durham University.

Doors open at 5.20pm to lecture room on the west side of the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital.

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