Achill Archaeological Field School

"Achill Field School was one of the most rewarding experiences for me, I was apart of the supervisor training program and definitely learned a lot personally and professionally. Stuart Rathbone and Theresa McDonald provide a great program and offer a lot of opportunities to the students like field trips, guest lectures, and workshops. Achill Island is incredibly beautiful and while it is a small town, has a lot of archaeological sites to explore, a great pub down the road, and gives a chance for bonding between the students. You'll create friendships that will last a lifetime. Achill Archaeological Field School is a great program for any experience level of students."

"The school not only delivers valuable knowledge about archeology, but teaches you skills that can be utilized over a variety of different disciplines and professions. Achill Field School has boosted my confidence and eagerness to learn and explore new areas of the science field as well as other parts of the world. My experience with the field school as a student and as a supervisor allowed me to determine my future career path. It was, by far, the greatest learning experience I have ever been apart of since it provided a comfortable learning environment along with extremely qualified teachers, who aim to pass along as much of their knowledge as possible. The interactive field work and time spent on the site was exciting, interesting and truly shows the steps in regards to archaeology. I am originally from America but after many summers spent at the Achill Field School I have decided to continue my coursework and acquire a Masters degree in Dublin, potentially even looking for a permanent job in the Achill area."

"I spent to summers in Achill Field School and both of them were amazing. I enjoyed every single minute of that trip. We had some amazing excavations and I managed to meet some very inspiring people. Achill Field School allowed me to fall in love with archaeology and I would definitely recommend it to everyone, with or without any knowledge of the archaeological field."

"As someone with no prior experience with archaeology, Achill was a great hands on learning experience. I actually enjoyed it so much that I decided to study archaeology at Trinity College Dublin. Also as an American it was great to experience authentic Irish culture. All the locals were very friendly and staff not only were excellent instructors but also proficient in the local history and culture. I have already recommended Achill Field School to all my peers at university, and would recommend it to anyone else."

"Achill Field School was a highlight of my academic career. Nestled in beautiful surroundings with the thundering Atlantic at your doorstep, this field school not only offers superb archaeological experience, but also an amazing cultural experience where interaction with the locals happens on a daily basis, traditional irish music is often played live in the cosy little pubs on the island, and you'll even hear Gealic - the native tongue - being spoken. As far as learning at the field school, I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to learn the hands on approach to archaeology. As a student here, you get to be heavily involved in every aspect of the excavation process, from surveying, to drawing, to photography, the list goes on and on. After returning to my university and speaking to all my classmates who had also completed their Field School courses over the summer, I am so happy that I chose Achill Field School, as I got to take part and be thoroughly involved in a lot of things my classmates only got to observe or try once. The lectures that were given were interesting and kept your attention, and the guest lecturers that spoke on occasion during the evenings were great to listen to. You will absorb a wealth of knowledge from the great staff and guest lecturers that are part of the Achill field school. You will also get a chance to go on guided hikes around the island and learn its history and about its many archaeological sites. Field trips that take you further afield, to Clare Island, Ceide Feilds, Sligo, and more are also available and amazing to see. On top of all the great archaeological and academic experiences, I made some really amazing life-long friends during my time on the island. Six years later and we are still getting together at least once a year, and still talking about what an amazing experience we all had together, learning new things, excavating up on site, hiking all over the island and learning about it's history, and going on field trips. When you come to Achill Field School you'll not only leave confident in your excavation skills and knowledge of archaeology, but also with friends and memories that will last you a lifetime."