Archaeological Dig To Take Place In Co Down Park

An archaeological dig is set to take place at a park in County Down this summer.

Work will be carried out at Moira Demesne to help excavate the possible remains of Moira Castle from 07-17 May.

It is being coordinated by the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum, giving volunteers the opportunity to work with professional archaeologists.   

The possible remains of Moira Castle were revealed in 2018 during a spell of hot weather. The Museum partnered with Queen's University's Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork (CAF) to conduct a geophysical survey, and explore the site more fully. The results have been revealing and may have helped locate the grand 18th-century Moira Castle and possibly an earlier 17th-century settlement. 


Volunteers can find details on how to apply for the dig on the Lisburn Museum website.

Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the council's Leisure & Community Development Committee which is funding the project, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity to get involved with to help uncover the history of Moira Castle and its inhabitants. I know there has been huge local interest in the project, and I am excited to see the results of the excavation."

The council will publish the findings from the two-week excavation later this year and will be presented as part of the museum's autumn events programme.

(CM/MH)