Minister Batt O'Keeffe opens the 11th Annual Meeting of the EAA in Cork

Mr Batt O'Keeffe T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (7th September) welcomed the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) to UCC, Cork for their 11th Annual Meeting as part of the Cork 2005 City of Culture Programme. This major conference also coincides with national Heritage Week 2005.
"We are honoured to be hosting this prestigious conference during national Heritage Week and are delighted to welcome here to Cork, the 2005 City of Culture, delegates from so many different countries," the Minister said.
The EAA has a membership of some 1,100 from over 40 countries worldwide. Since their inaugural conference was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 1994, the Association's annual meeting has developed into a major European event, averaging some 600 participants and providing a forum for archaeological discussion at international level.
During the three working days of the conference (7th – 10th September), almost 60 papers will be presented and discussed in round-table sessions, EAA committee and working-party meetings and as poster presentations, ensuring the widest possible range of topics is aired. The conference is structured to allow as many speakers as practicable to present their studies, analyses and observations.
There will also be a public programme, with free tours on Friday 9th September of the Viking and Medieval city, guided by experienced archaeologists, providing the Cork public with an opportunity to view familiar places in a different light. There will be a performance of replica prehistoric instruments in UCC on Saturday 10th September.
The Minister mentioned that, as Ireland continues to experience unprecedented development growth, there are archaeological excavations being undertaken at a rate and intensity not witnessed before. Mentioning the discovery of a previously unrecorded Viking Settlement at Woodstown, Co Waterford, Minister O'Keeffe pointed out that the pace of development was actually contributing to increasing our store of knowledge. The Minister also briefly alluded to the controversy surrounding the M3 Motorway and said that the Directions issued by the Minister Roche would ensure that proper standards and practice applied to the undertaking of excavations and other archaeological works along the route.
The Minister also drew attention to his desire for a greater public awareness and understanding of our national archaeological heritage. He highlighted his Department's current involvement in the development of a public access website detailing all national archaeological sites and monuments. His Department is also collaborating with the Limerick Education Centre in developing an "Archaeology in the Classroom" project for primary schools.
"This project is aimed at raising awareness of our archaeological heritage at the earliest opportunity in the schools system. I hope that in a few short years this will lead to many more young people taking a greater interest in, and perhaps going on to study, archaeology," the Minister said.