Dave Swift - Heritage in Schools

During Dave’s school visit, Irish archaeology is animated for the children as they experience an engaging demonstration on domestic and military life during a given historical period as chosen by the school.  Approximately 100 artefacts are displayed in the classroom turning the school into a veritable museum for the day! These items range from swords and Viking jewellery to a range of medieval helmets and 1916 uniform items.

During the session students are introduced to the fashions, military attire, weaponry, the economy and culture of the chosen historical period. Children get to inspect this unique collection of original and/or faithfully reproduced artefacts with their own hands. All reconstructions presented are thoroughly researched and are made to the highest international museum-grade standards – there is no skimping on quality! Traditional crafts examined by the students can include materials derived from metal, leather, wood, glass, ceramic, antler, bone and horn. The taking of macro photos of the exhibited artefacts is welcomed. Often such pictures can provide an excellent visual resource for the teacher in future school lessons. A lively historical narrative is given throughout the session explaining the major characters, social conditions and customs of the time. Dave also explains the human environments of the chosen period be it 25 Northumberland Road in Easter Week 1916, or an Irish crannóg. Sessions can end with a short quiz whereby the lucky winners have an opportunity to try out a few of the rarer 'normally off limits' artefacts - an ideal school photo opportunity! Dave also welcomes acting as guide to schools who wish to visit the National Museum of Ireland (either Collins Barracks or the Archaeology Museum on Kildare Street). He is also available as a guide to Viking & Medieval Dublin or to the Battlefields of the Easter Rising including the GPO and Arbour Hill. Dave Swift MSc has been working in Ireland as a field-archaeologist since 1999 and is a qualified National Tour Guide. As founder of Living History & Mobile Museum 'Claíomh' he has been involved in Irish historic recreation work for 30 years taking part in events in Iceland, Italy, England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden and Spain over the years as well as at home in Ireland. Dave often gives lectures and demonstrations at OPW heritage sites, various museums, Irish Walled Towns Network Festivals, Third Level Institutions and Local Historical Societies among others. He has many television and film credits working variously as armourer, historical advisor, fight choreographer, props supplier, wardrobe assistant and actor. Recent projects compose a diverse range including GPO Witness History Audio-Visual 'Fire & Steel', 'Medieval Dead' (Series 3, Episode 4: 'Gallowglass: Warlords Of Ireland') and supplying uniforms to TG4's 1916 comedy 'Wrecking the Rising'. Dave is a contributing author to 'Ireland and the Crusades' (Four Courts Press, 2022) and 'Gallowglass (working title)' (Zeughaus Verlag, forthcoming 2022).