Teach Allais: A Talk by Archaeologist & Folklorist Paddy Doyle

As part of our ongoing public programme of talks, An Chéad Tíne Art Gallery is delighted to present an evening with Archaeologist and Folklorist Paddy Doyle, in response to our current exhibition "Teach Allais (Irish Sweathouse)", curated by Mary Doyle Burke.

Paddy Doyle is a seasoned archaeologist and folklorist, renowned for his profound engagement with Irish heritage, landscape, and oral tradition. A graduate of the National University of Ireland, Cork, he holds a BA in Celtic Studies and an MA in Archaeology, with his thesis focusing on The Irish Holy Well Tradition.

In 2007, Paddy worked with Dr. Éamon Lankford on the Cork Place Name Survey, collecting and mapping minor placenames across County Cork from both oral tradition and written records. This project led to the creation of Ireland’s first public Place Name Archive at Cork County Library — a milestone in community-led heritage preservation.

In 2024, he carried out a Heritage Audit of North West Kilkenny for Ionad Lachtain, Freshford, funded by the Heritage Council. He is currently engaged in a community-led hedgerow mapping project with The Acorn Project, exploring Kilkenny’s natural and cultural landscapes.

But Paddy’s work isn’t limited to research. He is also a storyteller and creative facilitator, weaving together folklore, landscape, and local memory to help communities express and perform their shared heritage. He regularly collaborates with local groups, including Cork Cultural Companions, Muintir na Tíre, and the Cork Traveller Women’s Network, where he is developing an oral storytelling project focused on Traveller culture and heritage.

Why the Teach Allais Matters

The Teach Allais, or Irish Sweathouse, is a potent symbol of Ireland’s indigenous health practices and a gateway into understanding the deeper rituals and communal experiences of rural life. Through archaeology, folklore, and narrative, Paddy Doyle brings this ancient structure to life — not as a relic, but as a living part of our cultural imagination.

We warmly invite artists, historians, storytellers, heritage lovers and the curious-minded to join us for what promises to be a rich and evocative evening.

Event Details

Date: 7pm, Thursday, 31st July

Venue: An Chéad Tíne Art Gallery, 1st floor, Dunnes Stores, St. Keiran's St., Kilkenny.

This is a free event, kindly funded by Kilkenny Heritage Office, and we are very grateful to local Heritage Officer Regina Fitzpatrick for her generous support of this project and exhibition.