The Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement was founded in 1969 to provide a focus for the different disciplines interested in the field of settlement studies/landscape history. Membership is open to all those who share a common interest in the history of the Irish landscape from megalithic graves to modern towns. It includes archaeologists, geographers, historians and members of other disciplines and of local archaeological and historical societies and field clubs.

The activities of the Group includes the holding of an Annual Conference, comprising lectures and field trips, focusing on the settlement history of a particular area. This is held annually in May. The 1998 conference was held in Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow. Mallow, Co. Cork (1997), Westport, Co. Mayo (1996), Carnlough, Co. Antrim (1995), Youghal (1994), Birr (1993), Clifden (1992) and Kilkenny (1991), have been venues for other recent annual conferences. Monaghan Town will be the venue for the 1999 conference which will be held from 7th to 9th May will have as its theme The Settlement History of Oriel (Airghialla). A weekend conference on the theme of Landscape and Settlement in Gaelic Ireland c. 1350 - 1600 was held in Dublin (Purcell House Conference Centre, All Hallows College) from the 26th to 28th February, 1999.

A Newsletter containing articles on archaeology, historical geography and settlement history, in addition to book reviews is circulated free to members twice annually.

 The Group also publishes a series of monographs, Irish Settlement Studies, of which five have appeared to-date.

No. 1 Anglo-Norman settlement in Ireland by Brian J. Graham (1985) out of print

No. 2 Irish Tower Houses - A County Tipperary Case Study by Conrad T. Cairns (1987) out of print

No. 3 The Geography and Practice of English Colonisation in Ireland 1534-1609 by Ralf Loeber (1991) out of print

No. 4 Urban Improvement in Provincial Ireland 1700-1840 by Brian J. Graham and L. J. Proudfoot (1994) Ir£6.00, incl. p&p

No. 5 The Irish Ringfort by Matthew Stout (1997)

No. 6 Interpreting the Irish Landscape: explorations in settlement history by J. H. Andrews (1998)

 Membership of the Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement (Annual Subscription, Ir£7, students Ir£5) is open to all who share an interest in settlement history and the making of the Irish landscape.

Mr. Michael O'Hanrahan,
Hon. Secretary, G.S.I.H.S.,
12 Oak Road, Dukes Meadows,
Kilkenny.

Tel. 00353 (0) 56-21667
Fax. 00353 (0)56-63889

E-mail: mohanrahan@tinet.ie

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