The Discovery Programme was very pleased to welcome Mr Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on a visit to our offices on Wednesday 22 June. The Minister who heads up this newly-formed department, was welcomed to 63 Merrion Square by the Chairman of the Discovery Programme, Prof. Terry Barry, the CEO of the Discovery Programme Dr Brian Lacey,the President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Charles Doherty and Conor Newman, the Chairman of the Heritage Council which funds the Discovery Programme.

The Minister then toured our offices and was introduced to members of the Directorate (board) and staff who had laid out some artefacts and environmental samples from recent excavations.There followed a short presentation on the work of the Discovery Programme by the CEO Dr Brian Lacey and the Minister was presented with a small souvenir of the visit, a LiDAR image of Skellig Michael in his own county of Kerry. The Minister then paid a courtesy call to the offices of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland which are also in 63 Merrion Square.