Ellen M. Prendergast | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | May 10, 1999 | (aged 80)
Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Occupation | archaeologist |
Ellen M. Prendergast (11 June 1918–10 May 1999) was Ireland's first female professional archaeologist.
Ellen M. Prendergast was born at Killure near Paulstown, County Kilkenny as one of a pair of twin girls, her sister was named Catherine.[1] She was educated in the Brigidine Convent school in Mountrath. She was a boarder there and it was here that Helen Roe (1895–1988), Laois county librarian, inspired her about archaeology with lessons on local history.[1]
In 1938 Prendergast took up a post as Technical Assistant at the National Museum of Ireland, and attended University College Dublin where she completed a BA in 1943, and in 1947 an MA, in Celtic Archaeology.[2]
Prendergast spent her professional life working in the National Museum of Ireland, specialising in areas including burials of the later Neolithic period, prehistoric pottery and Early Bronze Age cist burials. She remained deeply interested in the archaeology of County Kilkenny and was a regular contributor for the Old Kilkenny Review, and she was a member of the Irish Archaeological Society committee from 1945.[2]
In addition to her involvement in history, Prendergast was known as a feminist and trade unionist, and a supporter of the Irish language.
When she retired in 1983 Prendergast returned to live in Kilkenny.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Ellen Prendergast continued to write and publish on archaeology and history until shortly before her death on 10 May 1999.[1]
Source:[12]