Matt Seaver and Diarmuid Ó'Riain from the Irish Antiquities Division at the National Museum of Ireland attended the launch of Millennium: European Year of the Normans in early July at the historic Abbaye aux Dames in Caen, Normandy. They were joined by National Library of Ireland colleagues Cronán Ó Doibhlin and Sinéad McCoole for this significant international event.
The initiative brings together nine countries and territories to mark the Norman legacy in 2027, one thousand years after the birth of William the Conqueror. The Irish programme was formally launched in the Norman capital by Micheál Tierney, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Ireland, and Michael MacDonagh, Chief Archaeologist with the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, before an audience of over 500 participants, including a large Irish delegation.
A major highlight of Ireland's contribution will be Deeds and Misdeeds: Ireland and the Norman World, a landmark exhibition marking the National Museum of Ireland's 150th anniversary. Co-curated by the National Museum and the National Library of Ireland, the exhibition will be presented at the Museum of Archaeology, Kildare Street, and will bring together significant manuscripts and objects to explore the Norman impact on Ireland.
The exhibition will also feature an immersive schools project linking French and Irish students, while Archaeology Education is developing an integrated education programme. Complementing the exhibition, the National Library of Ireland's Education team will host a lecture series titled Norman Nights.
Deeds and Misdeeds: Ireland and the Norman World will offer visitors an opportunity to reflect on the complex and enduring cultural legacy of the Normans in Ireland, highlighting the rich connections between Ireland and the wider Norman world.