Cahill Lynch Prize in Archaeology

At a glance

• Value: €5,000
• You must have been accepted on an MPhil or PhD degree programme in Archaeology at UCC to be eligible for this prize
• Questions about this prize can be directed toDr Griffin Murray at g.murray@ucc.ie

Eligibility to apply 

This prize is open to applicants who hold a BA degree in Archaeology with a minimum grade of 2.1. The prize is open to new entrants, who have been accepted on the MPhil or PhD programmes in Archaeology, as well as current students on those programmes. The value of the prize is €5,000. 

Selection

Applications will be assessed on the basis of academic record, a 2,000-word research proposal, and a 500-word personal statement. Applicants are to submit a copy of their academic transcripts, personal statement, and their research proposal to Dr Griffin Murray at g.murray@ucc.ie.

Emails are to be captioned ‘Cahill Lynch Prize in Archaeology Application’ and are to be submitted no later than 31 August 2026.

This prize is to be awarded in 2026 to mark fifty years since the donors, Mary Cahill and Ann Lynch, completed their studies in the Department of Archaeology, UCC. Both went on to devote their working lives to Irish archaeology, holding the key posts of Keeper of Irish Antiquities in the National Museum of Ireland and Chief Archaeologist in the National Monuments Service, respectively, on retirement.

Mary joined the curatorial staff of the National Museum of Ireland in 1976 where she investigated many important archaeological discoveries, curated exhibitions and published widely on prehistoric gold, burial archaeology, history of collections and antiquarianism.

As holder of the Travelling Studentship in Archaeology, Ann departed for the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 1976 where she obtained her PhD before returning to take up a post in the National Monuments Service in 1981. She directed excavations at many of Ireland’s premier national monuments and has published widely on the results. 

Over the last fifty years Mary and Ann maintained close contacts with the Department of Archaeology at UCC. The Cahill Lynch Prize 2026 is offered to recognise this relationship and to acknowledge the education that they received under Prof. M.J. O’Kelly from 1970-76.