From Skellig to Tory Islands: A Lifetime of Exploring Ireland’s Islands, Mountains and Lakelands

Michael Gibbons, an independent archaeologist and former Co-Director of the Sites and Monuments Record Office, has transformed our understanding of Irish archaeology. Over four decades, he has made remarkable discoveries, including Mesolithic material dating back 8,000 years in Connemara and Neolithic tombs and Bronze Age sites throughout the region. He has explored hillforts, promontory forts, and lake dwellings, uncovering unique clusters like the Oileáin na Lochlannaigh lake dwellings. Gibbons has also studied coastal archaeology, shedding light on the impact of climate change on Ireland’s coastline.

His research on pilgrimage landscapes has led to important findings on Skellig Michael, Croagh Patrick, and the Aran Islands. He has explored the possibility that Newgrange’s Neolithic Passage Tomb had an Iron Age ritual site with Romano- British connections. Gibbons’ work has significantly expanded our knowledge of Irish archaeology.

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