John Waddell is a former Professor of Archaeology and Head of the School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway. A graduate of NUI, Galway (then University College, Galway), he studied at the University of Glasgow and worked in the National Museum of Ireland before returning to Galway in 1970. Appointed Professor of Archaeology in 1998, he is a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His research interests lie mainly in the archaeology of prehistoric Ireland and in the prehistoric relationships between this island and Britain and Continental Europe. He is co-editor of two volumes in the New Survey of Clare Island Series, New Survey of Clare Island Volume 4: The Abbey (2005) and New Survey of Clare Island Volume 5: Archaeology (2007).