PhD Researcher
Dissertation title
Mapping the Physical and Religious Influences behind Cillíní Distribution on the Island of Ireland: With Counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Mayo, and Meath as Case Studies
Supervisors: Prof. Eileen Murphy, Dr. Colm Donnelly
Funding
Queen’s University Belfast: The Kerr International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2019-2021)
Queen’s University Belfast: Jack Kerr Fieldwork Grant (2021)
Royal Irish Academy: The R.J. Hunter Research Bursary Scheme (2021)
Dissertation topic
For my doctoral dissertation, I will be recording and mapping previously unrecorded and currently recorded Cillíní (children’s burial grounds) across the island of Ireland. I am currently analysing the Ordnance Survey (OS) maps for Counties Fermanagh, Meath and Antrim for possible unrecorded Cillíní. I completed community engagement fieldwork in Summer 202, where I spoke with locals in Co. Fermanagh regarding possible sites, had volunteers fill out questionnaires, and then recorded and surveyed potential sites. I will be using my previous MA research in Co. Mayo as a reference point in order to look at the locations of Cillíní in my case study counties and how they interact with other archaeological sites as well as their surrounding natural landscape. I will also be researching the socio-religious influences behind Cillíní origins to try to better understand why Cillíní distribution is heavier in western Ireland, and how folklore influenced social views and interactions with Cillíní.
Experience/Education
Commerical Archaeology, Senior Site Assistant, Dublin, Ireland (2017-2019)
MA, Archaeology, University College Dublin (2017)
MSc, World Heritage, University College Dublin (2016)
BA, History; Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, The Pennsylvania State University (2015)
Honours BSc, Archaeological Science, The Pennsylvania State University (2013)
Presentations
EAA 2021 27th Annual Meeting (Kiev and Virtual): Session 438: Baptism in the Archaeological Landscape –- The Unbaptised in the Archaeological Landscape: Finding and Recording Ireland’s Cillíní (Children’s Burial Grounds) using GIS (7 September 2021)
