The Gala
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), North America’s oldest and the world’s largest organization devoted to archaeology, held its 3rd Annual Gala on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.
An Irish-themed affair at Capitale , located on the Bowery in New York City, the evening explored the country’s archaeology and included an Irish ale and whiskey tasting, a contemporary Celtic feast created by native Dubliner and James Beard Award-winning Irish chef Cathal Armstrong, and live music and dance performances. Auctions, both live and silent, featured archaeologically-themed items including once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences— a chance to dive to an underwater shipwreck, dig at Pompeii, and sail the Emerald Seas around Ireland following the route of 7th -century seagoing monks—along with dazzling jewelry, Celtic treasures, and more. In addition, the evening’s pledge drive gave guests the opportunity to directly support the preservation of threatened ancient sites in Ireland.
The 2011 Bandelier Award for Public Service to Archaeology was presented to George F. Bass, the father of underwater archaeology. Bass has led and participated in some of the most famous shipwreck discoveries of our time, including a dive to map the rate of decay of the Titanic. His work over the past 40 years has made him a leading expert in the field of nautical archaeology, a field he founded. Bass also created the world’s leading institute in the discipline, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University.
The evening program, hosted by acclaimed actor and Irish Cultural Ambassador, Gabriel Byrne, focused on the culture and history of Ireland. Byrne’s personal interest in the ancient past stems from his studies in archaeology and linguistics, along with his excavations in Ireland, Italy, and Greece. Together with Culture Ireland and Tourism Ireland, this year’s Gala indeed celebrated all things Irish, weaving a tapestry of the Emerald Isle from its origins to its vibrant present.
About the Gala
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