Margaret Gowen attended University College Cork where she received both her BA (1st Hons) and MA (1st Hons) in archaeology. Soon after graduating in 1979 she commenced excavation on the National Museum of Ireland’s Wood Quay site. She directed her first excavation in 1981 and undertook a number of medium and large-scale projects on behalf of the Bord Gáis Éireann on cross-country gas pipelines between 1984 and 1999.

Margaret developed professionally to a point where in 1990 she founded her own archaeological consultancy and project management practice.

With over 25 years experience as a senior archaeological consultant and project manager Margaret has been involved with many large-scale Irish urban and infrastructural projects including the Dublin Light Rail Transport LUAS Project (1996-present); the urban redevelopment of the Temple Bar sector in Dublin city (1992-2002); the Galmoy and Lisheen lead-zinc mine developments; the Limerick Main Drainage Scheme (1997-2000); the River Nore (Kilkenny City) Flood Alleviation Scheme (2000-present); the 335km Gas Pipeline to the West (2001-2003); the N8 Cashel-Mitchelstown Road Scheme (2006-present); Dublin Airport Terminal 2 (2006-present); and acted as the archaeological consultant for the proposed Metro North project (2007-present).

She is currently the Acting Chair of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI), and Vice President of the European Associate on Archaeologists (EAA). She is the former President and member of the ICOMOS (Irish Committee); is serving a second term on the Directorate of the Discovery Programme (2001-5 & 2006-11); and is a former member of the Heritage Council Standing Committee on Archaeology (2001-6). Her involvement with the Heritage Council, Discovery Programme, IAI, EAA, and ICOMOS demonstrates Margaret’s commitment to the professional standards and aspirations for archaeological research and the development of the profession. From 2006-7 she served as a member of the European Commission Expert Group on Humanities, preparing an advisory document for the European Commission.

Publications List: Margaret Gowen MA, MIAI