The 2nd George Eogan Memorial lecture:

“Excavations at the French Cistercian Grange of Beaubec, Co. Meath” by Dr Geraldine Stout (Patron)

Sunday, 3rd December, 2023 at the Boyne Valley Hotel, Drogheda (3pm) (Eircode: A92 EY89)

In this lecture, Dr Stout will talk about the final results of three seasons of are search excavation at Beymore, Co. Meath (on the Mc Cullen family farm) – the site of Beaubec, a medieval farm established by a small community of French Cistercian monks from De Bello Becco Abbey in Normandy. The lands had been granted to the monks by Hugh de Lacy who had built Trim Castle and founded the town of Drogheda. Dr Stout will cover the history of the site and its French community, remains of whose stone residence and farm buildings were uncovered during the excavations. A team of specialists have examined a wide range of material finds from the excavation which has told us a lot about their daily life and farming practices during the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the more remarkable finds is a large ceramic chimney pot which was made in the medieval pottery kilns of Drogheda.

Dr Geraldine Stout studied archaeology in UCD under Professor Eogan and worked as an undergraduate on his excavations at Knowth. She is a leading authority on the archaeology of the Boyne Valley. Her publications include Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne, The Cistercian Grange: a medieval farming system, and The Bective Abbey project Co. Meath 2009-2012(with Matthew Stout). She is a Patron of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Copies of her latest publication, Beaubec, Co. Meath: Excavation of a French Cistercian Grange in the Boyne Valley, will be available for purchase after the Lecture.

Inquiries to: info@mahs.ie  or to Hon. Sec. Tom French(087 4119633