Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland

Under the Memorandum of Association the IAI has committed to hold ‘at least one conference annually on a matter or matters related to archaeology’. Currently, we organise two meetings a year, one in the Spring to coincide with the Annual General Meeting and one in the Autumn. They are held on a rotational basis between the four major cities that have University training in archaeology; Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. These meetings are open-to-all, but with Members offered a discounted admission price. The sponsorship we receive for the IAI conferences is essential to their success and we wish to extent our gratitude to all those who have offered support over the years.

To cater for the large cross-section of members the conferences are currently run over two days, a Friday and a Saturday. The format consists of up to four sessions per day, with each session made up of 3–4 speakers with presentations of 20–25 minutes long. We can also cater for shorter presentations, and frequently hold a session of 10 minute talks on current post-graduate research. Where possible we also try to incorporate a field-trip element, for example, a walking tour of medieval Cork City. The social aspect of these meetings is particularly important and the Friday Night Table Quiz has been a resounding success, bringing people together through tension and tie-breakers!

The theme of each conference is set by the IAI Board of Directors; however all suggestions from our Members are also more than welcome for consideration. We make every effort to bring together a diversity of speakers, offering something to suit everyone’s interests, and we aim to include themes that are topical, showcasing the high standard of excavation and research that is underway across Ireland. The following is a summary of the conferences that have taken place over recent years: