Irish nightmare

A Digger reader's experiences

Lured by the pay, the quantity of work and the Guinness, I headed for Fishguard to work in Ireland. I had read tales of Dickensian style workhouse horrors in The Digger. However I wanted to experience the Emerald Isle for myself and I jumped at the chance of a job promising me 1000 Euros [£660] a week. I also wanted to gain my director's license after interview with Duchas, the Irish Heritage Service. But I was about to embark on one of the most unpleasant experiences of my working life.

I won't name the company because I might be done for slander, but they are one of the major players in Dublin and indeed Ireland. I began as Assistant Director on a major infrastructure project and was responsible for monitoring the initial 60km strip.

My suspicions of doom were first aroused when I was left on my own to watch not one or two 360 degree excavators but 14! Spread over a distance of 2km. I've watched a few machines in my time but I challenge anyone to monitor that situation successfully. Most site photos were done with disposable cameras and I was told to ignore anything that didn't have charcoal or burnt clay in it.

I was working 8 till 6 and rarely got home until 7.30pm. I also didn't get half the money I was promised. When I wrote a letter to the company explaining the situation one of the bosses rang me and said I was a troublemaker and if I complained again I would be fired. This was the person who begged me to come to Ireland in the first place.

Now with all those machines surprise, surprise they hit a cemetery and of course guess who got the blame? Me. There was a 12 foot spoil heap with bones and skulls sticking out. It looked like something Pol Pot would be proud of. So I get hauled up in front of Duchas to explain myself and everyone leaves like rats from a sinking ship. Next thing my contract ends because 'there is not enough work.'

Later Duchas exonerated me for any wrongdoing. I moved on, yet all of a sudden no one had any work, despite advertising.

I was invited for interview to get my license and I was convinced I had passed. However I got a letter telling me I had little clue of how to dig or recognise artifacts and that I would have to wait six months for another interview, even though they are held every month. Someone had been making a lot of phone calls I fear.

This was the final straw and I've decided to give up archaeology as a career after 5 years. So don't work in Ireland. We've heard it before yet we still go. Yeah the money's good but the practices would make you cry.