Unlike most digs, you won’t be working for a Professor or PhD student that’s solely focused on getting their research done, you are working with a community-based organization that is focused on educating students and uncovering (literally) Ireland’s history. At the Irish Heritage School you aren’t just another student, but an academic colleague. Your instructors are local professionals and they want you to succeed just as much as their projects!

I love that archaeology brings history to life, we are able to understand how past peoples lived and interacted. At the Monastic Midlands field school, you get to do that and be a part of understanding Irish history up close and personal. Visiting sacred sites with the knowledge that your work is helping the preservation of data and information for years to come, is a powerful experience.

There is so much to do in Ireland, and since it’s not exactly the largest country, you can definitely get a lot done over the weekends. You can even keep going and see the UK or other parts of Europe before, after, or even during the program! One of the best things about traveling to Ireland is that you are already in Europe. So what’s another two hour bus, train, or plane ride? I was able to see the Cliffs of Moher, visit Galway and go up to Belfast, tour the Guinness Storehouse and Trim Castle, walk through Trinity College, and much more! It’s all doable and definitely worth the extra effort.

The key part of field school is the learning aspect, not just the environment, but the actual content. At the Monastic Midlands field school, we got first hand experience on an archaeological dig. We worked on creating drawings of the cuttings (dig sites) and the walls, categorized finds, and completed the documentation forms. We also learned about photogrammetry, which is the process of taking photos and then rendering a 3D image. While we didn’t work with the software, we were given information on how itworked, saw examples, and took our own pictures! We were given valuable information about thedifferent ways archaeology can be applied and got first hand experience on-site and taking photos!

As a city-girl (more like suburbs-girl), I wasn’t sure I would like being in a small town for so long, but I actually loved the change of pace. Almost everything was walking distance from my home-stay and the town itself, though small, had no shortage of cute shops, restaurants, and of course, pubs. And of course…there’s a castle! Small towns might not be for everyone, but a summer in Birr is something anyone can enjoy!

One of the unique aspects of this field school was the living arrangements. Being in a homestay, you have the opportunity to actually live in the city where you are working, you get to be part of a family, and learn about Irish culture from Irish people. My host mom was so great, she even invited us to her grandson’s christening, and my housemate and I appeared on the parish’s Facebook page! I truly felt at home and welcomed, the home-stay experience really made my trip what it was and is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I’m from Los Angeles, born and raised, so I know what it’s like to battle against a heat wave. Well…there’s none of that in Ireland! While it never dropped below 50, it was never more than 75 (degrees Fahrenheit)! Yes, it does rain often, but never enough to make me regret leaving LA for the summer. If you want a break from sweating all summer, Ireland’s a great alternative. Plus, working in the field is much easier when the weather is on your side!

From pubs, to jigs, to strangers being friendly (in a good way), you’ll never tire of the Irish culture you’ll be surrounded by as a part of the Monastic Midlands program. Irish culture is extremely welcoming, and you’ll feel that you’re a part of the community right away! On that note, I will say that pubs are a big part of the social culture, and as someone who doesn’t drink, I did have my concerns. But I never felt out-of-place or unable to have fun, pubs aren’t just for drinking, but for socializing, eating, and just having a good time in your own way.

Our first week of field school was mostly field trips, we visited Birr Castle, walked around the city, toured Kilkenny, and even went to Dublin for a day! We were also able to visit several sites around the Midlands, like the iconic Clonmacnoise. I really felt like I was engaging with Irish history on these field trips, in a way that went beyond the actual field. I appreciated our work on-site so much more knowing that it was connected to all the places we had visited.

One of my favorite non-archaeology related things about my time in Ireland was Tea Time. I loved being able to take a 30-minute break, drink some tea and eat cookies (oh, I’m sorry, biscuits), and talk. It was really great getting a short break before lunch, not just because the cookies were delicious, but it was nice to have time to rest my mind and body before going back in the trenches (literally).

Of course, there’s no guarantee that your experience will be the exact same, and that’s the best part! Your trip will be your experience, but hopefully this is a great snapshot. Here’s to the Midlands!