Individual Members

John Nicholl MA, HDE

Member of EXARC since
Country
Ireland
Crafts & Skills

I began with introducing Living History to the Irish National Heritage Park circa 1995 when I founded a Living History group Gael agus Gall - this involved researching craft work in Viking Age Ireland for presentation to the public visiting the Park - using the (re)constructed buildings as a context. My own specialism is Medieval leather-working and I have written many specialist reports on finds from various sites around Ireland. I am currently reconstructing some of these finds to gain a better understanding of the original methods used. I have also been involved in the setting up of the UCD Experimental Archaeology programme having previously organised practical seminars for students in the Park. In 2005 I organised a major event in Wexford which involved bringing a Viking ship - the Gaia from Sandefjord in Norway in conjunction with 70 Viking re-enactors and craftspeople from Borre (Norway) to the Park. We had approximately 10,000 visitors that weekend. Since 2006 I have been a member of the Danish longship Havhingsten crew. I am currently in the process of establishing an Experimental Archaeology Group in the Park.