A possible ‘lost church’ and Early Medieval ringfort buried beneath a Creggan field will be the focus of a major community dig in the coming weeks – and people in Co Armagh are being urged to pick up a trowel and get involved.
Archaeologists from Queen’s University Belfast’s Centre for Community Archaeology (CCA) are inviting local people, schools and community groups to join an excavation at Killyloughran, on the Newry Road outside Creggan, from Monday, September 21 to Friday, October 2.
A geophysical survey carried out by Queen’s in 2020 revealed evidence of a large circular enclosure beneath the surface. Archaeologists believe it may be an Early Medieval ringfort, but local tradition hints at something even more intriguing – a forgotten church site that could pre-date the nearby Creggan Church.
The dig is being led by the CCA in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s AONBs and Geopark Team and Creggan Local History Society, through the Community Archaeology Programme Northern Ireland (CAPNI), supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Throughout the two-week excavation, local schoolchildren and adult volunteers will work side by side with Queen’s archaeologists, learning the basics of excavation, recording and interpreting what they find. No previous experience is needed – just sturdy footwear and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Ruairí Ó Baoill, from the Centre for Community Archaeology at Queen’s and director of the Killyloughran dig, said the team is eager to open up the site with local help.
“We are very excited about the excavation,” he said. “We will be digging up history at Killyloughran and the excavation will be an excellent opportunity to engage the local community and school groups with the important archaeology and heritage of one of County Armagh’s most historic regions.”
To give everyone a chance to see the discoveries taking shape, the project will host a public Open Day on Saturday 26 September, from 10am to 3pm, and an Open Evening on Wednesday 30 September, from 6pm to 7pm. Visitors will be able to view finds uncovered during the dig and hear directly from the archaeological team about what they think is emerging from the soil.
Places for all sessions – including school visits and volunteer slots – are limited and advance registration is recommended.
Full details and registration are available here.
The Killyloughran project builds on a strong track record for the CCA. To date, the team has carried out 36 community-based excavations across Northern Ireland, involving on average 1,000 schoolchildren and 700 adult volunteers in hands-on archaeological fieldwork every year.
With the Ring of Gullion’s rich history and folklore, the search for Killyloughran’s ‘lost church’ promises to be one of the most intriguing digs yet – and organisers say the story it reveals will belong to the local community that helps uncover it.
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