Ruairí Ó Baoill

Excavation Director

Telephone: 028 90 973727

Email: r.obaoill@qub.ac.uk

Ruairí Ó Baoill is a specialist in Medieval and Post-Medieval archaeology who took part in his first archaeological excavation in 1982. He graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1985 with a Joint Honours degree in Archaeology and Ancient History and proceeded to work within commercial-sector archaeology on a wide range of urban excavations in Dublin, Limerick, Carrickfergus and Sligo. He directed his first excavation in 1991 and since then has been involved in dozens of excavations, including large-scale projects with multiple sites. From 1998 to 2002 he was a member of the EHS: Built Heritage's Archaeological Excavation Unit. In August 2005 Ruairí joined the CAF. Ruairí has taught a variety of courses in archaeology to adult learners; he was a part-time lecturer in archaeology at the Belfast Institute from 1994 to 1997, and he was course co-coordinator of the Certificate Course in Archaeology with the Institute of Continuing Education at Queen's University Belfast from 1998 to 1999. Since 2013 Ruairí has been a Course Tutor at Stranmillis University College Lifelong Learning, teaching evening course in various aspects of Irish archaeology, including in the Archaeology of Ulster and the Archaeology of Belfast. He has served on the Board of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) and is a founder member and former Chair of the Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group (IPMAG). In 2016 Ruairí was elected President of the Ulster Archaeological Society (UAS).

Along with James O'Neill, Ruairí has developed and has led the hugely successful Hidden History archaeological tours of Belfast City Centre for Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency since 2009.

Ruairí is the author of three books: 'Island City: The Archaeology of Derry-Londonderry' (2013) published by April Sky Design (Colourpoint Books) for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Derry City Council,  'Hidden History Below Our Feet: The Archaeological Story of Belfast' (2011) published by Tamdem for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency: Built Heritage and Belfast City Council, and 'Carrickfergus: The Story of the Castle and Walled Town' (2008) published by TSO Ireland for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency: Built Heritage.

In recent years, Ruairí has appeared on many documentaries including 'Plantation: The Truth and the Legacy (UTV, 2010), 'Ulster Unearthed' (UTV, 2013), 'Belfast City: Mud, Sweat and 400 Years' (Dick Strawbridge/ BBC, 2013), 'Tim McGarry's Ulster Scots Journey' (BBC, 2013), 'Dan Cruikshank's Written in Stone' (BBC, 2013) and 'Tales of Irish Castles' (TV3, 2014).

Ruairí has peer-reviewed papers for the International Journal of Historical Archaeology (IJHA) and the Journal of Irish Archaeology (JIA).

MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES

• Full Member of Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists, 1990-2001
• Committee member, IAPA Sub-committee on Membership, 2000- 2001
• Board Member, Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI), 2001 to 2006
• Founder and Chair of the Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group (IPMAG) 1999 to 2007
• Committee member, Irish Post-Medieval Archaeology Group (IPMAG) 2007-
• President, Ulster Archaeological Society (UAS), 2016-

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS

Books/Monographs

Ó Baoill, R. (2013) Island City: The Archaeology of Derry-Londonderry. April Sky Design (Colourpoint Books) for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Derry City Council, Belfast.

Ó Baoill, R. (2011) Hidden History Below Our Feet: The Archaeological Story of Belfast. Tandem for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Belfast City Council, Belfast.

Ó Baoill, R. (2008) Carrickfergus. The Story of the Castle and Walled Town. TSO Ireland for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast.

Edited Volumes

Horning, A., Ó Baoill, R., Donnelly, C.J., and Logue, P. (eds.) (2007) The Post-Medieval Archaeology of Ireland 1550-1850. Wordwell Books, Bray.

Technical Papers and Guides

Ó Baoill R. (2017) A Contents List of the Third Series of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 1938-2013/14.  Compiled on behalf of the Ulster Archaeological Society. www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/UlsterJournalofArchaeology/

Ó Baoill R. (2017) A Contents List of the Second Series of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 1894-1911.  Compiled on behalf of the Ulster Archaeological Society. www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/UlsterJournalofArchaeology/

Ó Baoill R. (2017) A Contents List of the First Series of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 1853-1861/62.  Compiled on behalf of the Ulster Archaeological Society. www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/UlsterJournalofArchaeology/

Ó Baoill, R. (2013) Derry-Londonderry: a history and tour of the city walls. Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Ó Baoill, R. (2009) St. Nicholas’ Church, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide No. 43.

Ó Baoill, R. (2007) A Guide to Carrickfergus Castle. Environment and Heritage Service.

Ó Baoill, R. (2007) Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim: a walled town in the seventeenth century. Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide No. 36.

Ó Baoill, R. (With Crothers, N., Logue, P. and Hurl, D.) (2001). Excavation Standards Manual, 1st Edition, EHS: Built Heritage.

Journal Articles

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) 'The Excavation of a Multi-period Ecclesiastical Site at Aghavea, County Fermanagh', Ulster Journal of Archaeology Vol. 72, 114-143.  

Ó Baoill, R. (2008) 'The Urban Archaeology of Belfast: A review of the evidence', Ulster Journal of Archaeology 65, 8-19.

Ó Baoill, R. (2006) 'Excavation of a segmented Bronze Age cist at Newtownstewart, County Tyrone', Ulster Journal of Archaeology 64, 26-42.

Ó Baoill, R. (2006) 'Excavations at Newtownstewart Castle, County Tyrone', Ulster Journal of Archaeology 64, 62-105.

Ó Baoill, R. and Logue, P. (2006) 'Excavations at Gordon Street and Waring Street, Belfast', Ulster Journal of Archaeology 64, 106-139.

Ó Baoill, R. (2006) 'Excavations at Castle Gardens, Lisburn", Lisburn Historical Society Journal Volume 10 (2005-2006), 21-25.

Murphy, E. and Ó Baoill, R. (2006) 'The Early Bronze Age Cist Burial at Newtownstewart Castle, Co. Tyrone', Palaeopathology Newsletter: Irish Section News 3, 2-3.

Ó Baoill, R. (2000) 'Aghavea Parish Church', Church Archaeology, 4, 2000, 79-80.

Ó Baoill, R. (1999) 'Excavations at the site of Toome Castle, Co. Antrim', Ulster Journal of Archaeology 58, 90 -108.

Ó Baoill, R. (1998) 'Further excavations in Medieval Carrickfergus', Carrickfergus and District Historical Journal 9, 25- 32.

Ó Baoill, R. (1993) 'Recent excavations in Medieval Carrickfergus', Carrickfergus and District Historical Journal 7, 54- 63.

Chapters in Books

Ó Baoill, R. (2017) "Chapter 4. The Medieval Archaeology of Carrickfergus Town (Co. Antrim): A Brief Survey", in Duffy, P. O' Keeffe, J. and Picard, J-M. (eds.), From Carrickfergus to Carcassonne: The Epic Deeds of Hugh de Lacy during the Albigensian Crusade.  Outremer. Studies in the Crusades and the Latin East (OUTREMER 5). Brepols Publishers, Turnhout, 57-76, 347.

Ó Baoill, R. (2014) "Chapter 10.  Excavations at Aghavea, Co. Fermanagh" in Potterton, M. and Corlett, C. (eds.), The Early Church in Ireland.  Four Courts Press: Dublin, 159-172.

Ó Baoill, R. (2012) "Beneath Our Feet: The Archaeological Record", in Connolly, S.J. (ed.) Belfast 400: People, Place and History.  Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, 63-89.

Ó Baoill, R. (2010) "Jesting can be bad for your health: an episode from the Williamite Wars in Ireland", in Davies, M., MacConville, U. and Cooney, G. (eds.), A Grand Gallimaufry: collected in honour of Nick Maxwell. Wordwell Books, Bray, 119-121.

Ó Baoill, R. (2010) "An unusual prehistoric grave at Newtownstewart Castle, County Tyrone", in Murray, E. and Logue, P. (eds.), Battles, Boats and Bones: Archaeological Discoveries in Northern Ireland 1987-2008. TSO Ireland for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast, 105-110.

Ó Baoill, R. and McMullen, S. (2010) "The excavation and restoration of a seventeenth-century Irish formal garden: Lisburn Castle Gardens, County Antrim", in Murray, E. and Logue, P. (eds.), Battles, Boats and Bones: Archaeological Discoveries in Northern Ireland 1987-2008. TSO Ireland for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast, 36-39.

Ó Baoill, R. (2007) "The Archaeology of Post-Medieval Carrickfergus and Belfast, 1550-1750", in Horning, A., Ó Baoill, R., Donnelly, C.J., & Logue, P. (eds.), The Post-Medieval Archaeology of Ireland 1550-1850. Wordwell Books, Bray, 91-116.

General Reader Publications

Welsh, H., Ó Baoill R., Logue, R., Conway, C. and Pinkerton, L. (2017) 'Big Questions at the Big Dig: Divis, Belfast', Archaeology Ireland, Volume Vol. 31 No. 4, Issue No. 122, 44-47.

Ó Baoill, R. (2013) 'Cathedral Quarter Uncovered: Archaeological Discoveries', Quarter Beat, Issue 3 (April 2013), 3.

Ó Baoill, R. (2013) 'Entry No. 94: 17th Century Pottery' in Derry City Council Heritage and Museum Service A History of Derry in 100 Objects, 33.

Ó Baoill, R. (2008) 'Foreword to the 2008 Edition' in Young, R.M. 1892 The Town Book of the Corporation of Belfast, 1613-1892. Marcus Ward & Co, Belfast. Reprinted in 2008 by Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, for Belfast City Council.

Ó Baoill, R. (2005) 'Archaeological Assessment at Lisburn Castle Gardens”, IPMAG Newsletter, Volume IV, No. 1, Winter 2005, 2-4.

Ó Baoill, R. (2003) 'Excavations at Waring Street, Belfast', IPMAG Newsletter, Volume III, 2-3.

Ó Baoill, R. (2003) 'Digging up the past', Cathedral Quarter, Issue 1, 8.

Ó Baoill, R. (2003) 'Excavations at Lisburn Castle Gardens, Co. Antrim', Archaeology Ireland Volume 17 No. 4, Issue 66, 6.

Ó Baoill, R., McQuaid, Y. and Buckley, L. (2002) 'Holier than thou - experimental surgery in Olde Belfast', Archaeology Ireland, Volume 16 No. 4, Issue 62, 7.

Horning, A. and Ó Baoill, R. (2001) 'Post-Medieval Archaeologists descend on Belfast', Archaeology Ireland Volume 15 No. 2, Issue 56, 15.

Murphy, E. and Ó Baoill, R. (2000) 'It's a Dog's Life: Butchered Medieval Dogs from Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim', Archaeology Ireland Volume 14 No. 1, Issue 51, 24-25.

Ó Baoill, R. and Logue, P. (2000) 'Urban excavations in Belfast', IAPA News No. 32 (May 2000), 25.

Murphy, E., Ó Baoill, R. and Brannon, N.F. (1998) ' "A Curious Old Wall..." An unusual horn-core structure from Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim', Archaeology Ireland Volume 12 No.2, Issue 44, 16- 17.

Specialist Reports

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) ‘The Ceramic Assemblage’ in Welsh, H. ‘The Excavation of a Cashel at Ballyaghagan, Co. Antrim’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 72 (2013-14), 107-108. Published in 2016.

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) ‘The Clay Tobacco Pipe Assemblage’ in Welsh, H. ‘The Excavation of a Cashel at Ballyaghagan, Co. Antrim’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 72 (2013-14), 109. Published in 2016.

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) ‘The Ceramic Assemblage’ in Welsh, H.  ‘An excavation at the Inner Ward, Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 72 (2013-14). 182-183. Published in 2016.

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) ‘The Glass Assemblage’ in Welsh, H.  ‘An excavation at the Inner Ward, Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 72 (2013-14), 183. Published in 2016.

Ó Baoill, R. (2016) ‘The Lithic (Stone) Assemblage’ in Welsh, H.  ‘An excavation at the Inner Ward, Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 72 (201-14), 183-184. Published in 2016.

Ó Baoill, R. (2015) ‘Clay Tobacco Pipes’ in Murray, E.V.M. ‘Excavations within the Scheduled Enclosure at South West Ballycarry, County Antrim and the Discovery of a Post-Medieval Fort or Fortified Bawn’, Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 71 (2012), 140.  Published in 2015.

Ó Baoill, R. (2009) 'The Pottery' in Sloan, B. “Excavations at the site of the New Library, Queen’s University, Belfast”, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 66 (2007), 164.  Published in 2009.