Although the Viking Archaeology conference at UCC passed without a ripple of public attention, the 11th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists is likely to create more of a stir. This is the first time the association has met in Ireland, and throughout this week more than 600 delegates from 34 countries will tour the city and neighbouring counties before congregating at UCC for 12 sessions of lectures and presentations.

The programme for the week opens officially on Wednesday with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Deirdre Clune, attending the keynote address by Dr Peter Woodman, Professor of Archaeology and Dean of Arts at UCC, with a reception at the Aula Maxima hosted by Cork City Council.

The proposal that the association should meet in Cork came from city archaeologist Maurice Hurley, supported by the city council. "This is a major event for Cork promising immense economic and tourism benefit for the city," says Jim O'Donovan, chairman of the local organising committee. "It's a chance for us to give the city another kind of showcase, and Irish archaeologists will get to hear top-rank international specialists."

This week sees the culmination of the work carried out over 18 months by the national advisory board chaired by Michael Starrett, CEO of the Heritage Council, liaising with the scientific committee led by Elizabeth Twomey of UCC, and with city hall's Gina Johnson, in what must be a unique collaboration of civic and cultural organisations.

While delegates will be being taken on tours through Kerry, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford and west Cork, the public is invited to hear Dr Pat Wallace of the National Museum speak on the archaeology of Irish towns at the Crawford Gallery at 8pm on Thursday. On Friday at 8pm at the Crawford, Ken Hanley of Cork County Council will give a public lecture on the national roads programme in Co Cork.

Walking tours led by local archaeologists are available on Friday (tickets available from eaacork2005@corkcity.ie). Another public event is Simon O'Dwyer's demonstration at UCC of Irish prehistoric music and instruments (Saturday, 2.30pm). University sessions include the archaeology of gesture, the digital age, deviant burial practices, new perspectives on food and drink, and space, the final frontier.

Funding came from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Heritage Council, the National Roads Authority, Bord Gáis and companies, as well as from UCC's cut-price accommodation and facilities deals, while the city council is overall guarantor and host of the registration office and administration centre. See http://eaacork.ucc.ie/