Rúaidhrí de Valera

Rúaidhrí de Valera
Born(1916-11-03)3 November 1916
Dublin, Ireland
Died28 October 1978(1978-10-28) (aged 61)
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Resting placeGlasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Political partyFianna Fáil
Parents
Relatives

Rúaidhrí de Valera (3 November 1916 – 28 October 1978) was an Irish archaeologist most known for his work on the megalithic tombs of his country. He was the son of Éamon de Valera and Sinéad de Valera.

Early studies

De Valera took a Bachelor of Arts degree in Celtic studies from University College Dublin in 1939, before serving briefly in the Irish Army and then lecturing at the National University of Ireland at Maynooth for one year until 1943. He then studied for an MA in archaeology, writing his thesis on the prehistoric tombs of County Clare.[1]

Work

In 1947, de Valera became the Archaeological Officer for Ordnance Survey Ireland which permitted him to develop the Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland project. He went on to write significant papers on Irish prehistory which contributed to his doctorate, awarded in 1954.

In 1957, de Valera was appointed Chair of Celtic Archaeology at University College Dublin where he worked to enlarge the department whilst continuing to publish on Irish chamber tombs, especially the Court cairns which he proposed first developed in the west of the country.[2]

De Valera later excavated at the Mound of the Hostages at Tara.[3]

He died suddenly on 28 October 1978, while visiting the Fermanagh County Museum in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

References

  1. ^ Ferriter, Diarmaid (2009). "Dictionary of Irish Biography". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. ^ Carew, Mairéad (2018). The Quest for the Irish Celt. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 9781788550093.
  3. ^ O'Sullivan, Muiris (2010). "Tales from the trenches at Tara". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 140: 15–21. JSTOR 24395862.