28.01.2026, 18:00 P.M.
Between 1974 and 1981, the excavations at Wood Quay and Fishamble Street in Dublin transformed our understanding of Viking and Anglo-Norm an Ireland. Led by Dr Pat Wallace, these groundbreaking digs uncovered the house types, town layout, and waterfronts of medieval Dublin, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the city’s early development. Dr Wallace will reflect on the Wood Quay excavations, where the distinctive dwellings and street patterns of Viking Dublin, along with the waterfront structures of the succeeding Anglo-Norman period, were revealed. Now, just over 50 years since he first began work on the site in 1974, it is a fitting moment to revisit the discoveries—and the often controversial circumstances—in which the excavations took place. Following his success at Wood Quay, Dr Wallace went on to serve as Director of the National Museum of Ireland for 24 years, overseeing major expansions and championing the preservation of Ireland’s cultural heritage