Raid, Trade, Paid or More A Roman Presence in Ireland

‘The Romans never came to Ireland…’ is not a widely held view any more. Join Peter Crawford as he traces the steps of Romans to Ireland. Finds like the Coleraine Hoard, discovered by a farm labourer in 1854, have helped take the discussion of Romano-Irish relations beyond just ‘trade and raid’ into more intricate political interactions, army recruitment, and even Irish settlements on Roman land. The story of the Coleraine Hoard, a remarkable collection of Roman silver coins, ingots and hacksilver, may suggest that Ireland was a lot more ‘Roman’ than it was ever thought to be. In partnership with The Classical Association in Northern Ireland. ------------------------------------------------------ About Peter Crawford: Peter Crawford is a historian with expertise in Roman and late antique history. He gained a PhD in Ancient History at Queen's University, Belfast, and has taught ancient history at Queen’s and University College London. He has published four books on the history of the Late Roman period and biographies of Roman emperors: The War of the Three Gods (2013), Constantius II (2015), Roman Emperor Zeno (2019), and Justinian II (2021), with another book on emperor Leo III forthcoming. About the Classical Association in Northern Ireland: The mission of the Classical Association in Northern Ireland centres on the advancement of Ancient History and Classical Studies, nurturing educational pursuits across Northern Ireland. The Association in Northern Ireland regained momentum during the conclusion of the 2014 Summer School, orchestrated by the Classical Association of Ireland. Situated in Belfast, this branch operates under the umbrella of The Classical Association of Ireland. Their unwavering commitment to fostering Ancient History and the Classics is symbolized by an emblem—a stylized hound, emblematic of guardianship. The hound's prominence in mosaic artworks adorning the entrances of Roman residences and its recurrent presence in early Irish Latin manuscripts underscores their dedication. The narratives interweaving hounds are a recurring motif in Northern Ireland's earliest oral and written traditions.