5 best of the Irish treasures discovered by chance
The thrill of finding hidden treasures has always captivated our imagination. While some archaeological finds are meticulously planned, others happen by sheer chance. In the rich tapestry of Irish history, a handful of Irish treasures were discovered unexpectedly and now showcased in museums across the country.
(Read our latest blog Is the Real Santa Claus Buried in Ireland?)
Irish treasures That were discovered by chance
Let’s examine each of them separately.
1. Coggalbeg Hoard
In the quiet town of Coggalbeg, Roscommon, a man named Hubert Lannon stumbled upon a gold lunula and two coin-sized gold disks while cutting turf in March 1945. Amazingly, he didn’t share his discovery with anyone for two years before giving it to a pharmacist, who locked it away.
The treasure was forgotten until burglars stole the safe and discarded it in a rubbish skip in Dublin. The thin lunula, wrapped in a piece of paper, survived the ordeal and now resides in the National Museum of Ireland, a testament to unexpected twists in history.
2. Carrick-on-Suir Hoard
Construction workers beneath a pub in Carrick-on-Suir stumbled upon a hoard of 17th-century coins. Initially dismissed as worthless by the first worker who found them, they were saved from oblivion by a curious coworker who recognised their historical significance. These 81 coins, which feature three monarchs—Charles II, James II, and William III—now hang in the National Museum of Ireland. Unsolved is the mystery surrounding how these coins were buried beneath a bar. There are speculations that imply they might have been a Catholic merchant’s savings.
3. Mooghaun North Hoard
In 1845, while building the West Clare Railway in County Clare, a group of workers discovered a hoard of gold jewellery beneath stones they were relocating. Most of the artefacts were sold and melted down, leaving only 29 items. This hoard, estimated to have originally contained 150 relics weighing a total of 11 pounds, is considered the largest from the Bronze Age era in Northern or Western Europe. While some relics are housed in the British Museum in London, others are on display in the National Museum of Ireland.
4. Dowris Hoard
Two farmers digging trenches to plant potatoes in Dowris, County Offaly, in the 1820s unearthed a treasure trove of 200 historical bronze objects. Spearheads, axes, swords, horns, trumpets, and mysterious crotales (musical instruments resembling rattles) were among the artefacts discovered. Split between Dublin and London, the Dowris Hoard significantly contributed to our understanding of the final phase of the Bronze Age, leaving an indelible mark on Irish history.
5. Ballycastle Hoard
While looking for a lost ring near Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, metal detectorist Paul Raynard and his friend Michael Gywynne discovered an unexpected cache of 84 coins. Minted 500 years ago, some coins are exceedingly rare, with a Henry VIII coin alone fetching up to $5000. This chance discovery underscores the passion of treasure hunters, with the potential sale of the hoard reaching over $100,000–an accidental reward for a journey initially aimed at finding a lost ring.
Final Thoughts
The stories of these chance discoveries weave a captivating narrative of Irish treasures coming to light through unexpected turns of fate. Whether uncovered by turf cutters, construction workers, or metal detector enthusiasts, these treasures now offer a glimpse into Ireland’s rich and diverse history, leaving us in awe of the hidden gems waiting to be unearthed. What’s your favourite discovery from the above?
