Emma Devine, who died aged 35 following an illness, was a Kilkenny archaeologist and museum professional who produced a remarkable body of work in her short life.
In 1999 she met her husband Cóilín Ó Drisceoil and they worked together as freelance archaeologists excavating prehistoric and early medieval settlements in counties Louth, Meath, and Dublin. As a core member of an international team of researchers investigating the demise of the Neanderthals Emma subsequently excavated a series of caves in Gibraltar, Spain, and Morocco.
After establishing the Kilkenny Archaeology consultancy in 2002 with her husband, she went on to direct some of the most important Irish medieval archaeological excavations of recent years. These included the 14th century pottery production site at MacDonagh railway station, Kilkenny, (one of only two such sites from Ireland ) where a kiln, workshops, and some 9,000 artefacts were excavated. Her excavations at Leggetsrath and Danesfort, Kilkenny, opened up new understandings of how rural settlement was organised within the Anglo-Norman territories. Emma’s work on all these sites will be published later this year in separate books that she co-authored.
In 2008 Emma gave birth to her daughter, Béa, whom she adored and nurtured, even through the most difficult of circumstances wrought by illness.
A humanist celebration of Emma’s life involving music, poetry, and tributes from friends and family was held in the wonderfully apt surroundings of the Castalia hall, Ballytobin, on January 24. Here Emma’s glowing smile and warmth, her positive outlook on life, her deep love for her family and friends, her generosity, and her legacy to the world of heritage were all recalled to the hundreds of people who attended what was an emotional and moving ceremony.
Following the celebration Emma was laid to rest at Tulla churchyard, Threecastles, in a flower-entwined wicker coffin.
Emma’s loss to her family, her friends, her community, and the archaeological profession is immeasurable.
Emma Devine is survived by her husband Cóilín Ó Drisceoil, and her daughter Béa (aged three ), her parents Paula and Ken, her brothers Simon and David, her mother-in-law Mary Ó Drisceoil and father-in-law Proinsias Ó Drisceoil.
