Seeing the Treasures of Ireland
Since we were young, the word treasure is always associated with pirates, hoards, hidden caves full of gold and secret dungeons in castles. Many myths survive about treasures and where they lie. Eventually circumstances lead to the discovery of some of these. Other treasures never are, and maybe they never existed. Others are only discovered by pure luck. In the case of some of the Treasures of Ireland, this is the case.
Currently residing in the National Museum of Ireland, in the Treasury, these are evidence of the metal working and artistry skills that were in existence in an age and time when everything was handmade. No complicated tools touched them in their manufacture. Yet they are full of intricate details and made by the finest craftsmen of their time.
Dating from the 1st century BC to the 12th century AD, they mostly consist of religious symbols from the medieval Irish Christian age.
The Tara Brooch
Despite its name, which would signify that the discovery happened in the location of the old High Kings of Ireland, in Tara, the discovery of the Tara Brooch actually happened in Bettystown, County Meath. Reportedly a dealer who realized that it would be worth more if coming from Tara put the name ‘Tara Brooch’ on it.
Made from cast and gilt silver in the 8th century AD, with the front having gold panels showing animal and abstract motifs, the brooch has a diameter of 87mm. Separating the panels are studs of glass, enamel, and amber. The pin has a length of 320mm. Also attached to the brooch is a silver chain.
The Broighter Collar
The Broighter Collar is part of a hoard discovered in Broighter, County Derry in the late 19th century. Like other hoards, it was men ploughing the fields who discovered it. This also led to some damage on the collar unfortunately. The Celts wore the collar itself as a torc in Celtic times around the neck. It is a hollow gold tube with a diameter of 190mm, and uses a mortise and tenon fastening. It’s manufacture was sometime around the 1st century BC.
The Ardagh Chalice
The Ardagh Chalice, discovered in the mid 19th century in a ringfort by two boys digging in a potato field dates from the 8th century. However it was only later at the time of the Vikings that the burial of the chalice occured. The brooches discovered with it are evidence of this. Presumably someone intended to recover it but nobody ever came back for it.
Manufactured from silver, the chalice itself is a large two handled cup. A decorative panel around the top features gold panels with an interlink design of animals, birds, and geometric designs. Inscribed below this panel are the names of the Apostles. Other materials used on the making of the chalice are bronze, amber, glass, and enamel.
St. Patrick’s Bell and Shrine
St. Patrick’s Bell is reportedly to have once belonged to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The bell itself dates from the 8th century. The shrine that houses it is later, at around the 12th century.
Two sheets of metal riveted together and coated with bronze make up the bell.
The shrine by contrast is highly decorative. Made from panels held together by tubes at the edges, the front has a silver frame with gold panels arranged in the shape of a cross. The sides feature intertwining animals and snakes.
An inscription on the bell includes the name of the bell keeper. In this family the bell remained until the end of the 19th century.
The Lismore Crozier
Dating from the 12th century, the discovery of the Lismore Crozier occured in a blocked up doorway in Lismore Castle. It consists of a wooden staff decorated with bronze, and topped by a copper alloy crook. Blue glass decorates the sides of the crook. On the top of the crook, as a crest, are three animals. At the base of these is a larger animal head with blue eyes.
The Cross of Cong
Named for the place it resided, the Cross of Cong was originally made to enshrine a portion of ‘The True Cross’, which was apparently brought to Ireland in the early 12th century. Designed for processional use and walking ahead of a bishop, it was possibly used mostly as an altar cross.
The core of the cross is oak, which has bronze plates covering it. On the front of the cross at the junction is a large stone crystal. This was to protect the original relic, which no longer survives. The relic would have been visible through this crystal. All around the cross are extremely intricate gold intertwining artworks, and glass and enamel settings.
An inscription on the cross in Latin translates to; “by this cross is covered the cross on which the creator of the world suffered”.
The Book of Kells
Housed in Trinity College Dublin, The Book of Kells is a highly decorated manuscript Gospel book. Created in monasteries in possibly both Britain and Ireland around the 9th century, the book consists of four volumes.
The pages are of calf velum, and consist of intricate and decorated letters and pages. Some of the pages are full page artwork, whilst others have the first letter as the decorated letter. The borders of some of the pages are intricate scrolls and intertwining details. In the backgrounds of the decorated pages is a mass of hidden animals and artworks, in the shapes of swirling and knotted decorations.
Called after Kells Abbey which housed it for many years, The Book of Kells even survived Viking raids on the Abbey.
Bog Bodies
While not classified as treasures, the bog bodies are evidence of sacrifices carried out during the Celtic times in Ireland. In the National History Museum there are three on display.
Old Croghan Man
Found in the same year as Clonycavan Man, only the torso remains of Old Croghan Man. His hands are extremely well preserved. You can clearly make out the details on his fingers. Apparently he was of a high rank and had his nipples cut off which is a sign of demotion from rank. Estimations put him at a height of 6’6” at the time of death which is approximately between 350BC to 175BC. On his arm is a leather armband which is also well preserved.
Clonycavan Man
Clonycavan Man consists of the upper body of a man, who like Old Croghan Man suffered the rite of sacrifice. Bearing the same mutilation of the nipples, it is another sign of a high ranking man suffering demotion from his position for a sacrifice. Clonycavan Man’s features are very well preserved. Even a primitive form of hair gel holds his hair . He possibly lived between 400BC and 200BC.
Gallagh Man
The least preserved of the bog bodies on display, yet he is the most intact. Gallagh Man is also believed to have lived between 400BC and 200BC. Around his neck was a willow rod. This was possibly used to strangle him. His killers had pinned his body to the bog by two wooden stakes. And around his legs was a cape.
What Else is in the Museum?
The museum contains other relics of Ireland’s history apart from the above. Many objects of value are in evidence, such as gold necklaces or torcs. In addition to brooch pins, and weapons, all from an era long past.
Due to the Vikings having settled in Dublin, a lot of evidence of them has been found during various excavations in the city. These items are in the Viking section of the museum.
A small Egyptian area is also in the museum and there are some items of interest in here for viewing.
In one of its other buildings it houses displays of the animals found native to Ireland, some now extinct, and on the upper floor animals from around the world. A lot of the displays are set up with stuffed animals which are arranged to look like they are in a natural setting. There is an extensive array of birds, insects, and fish also.
The Reason to See the Treasures
If you have an interest in history and culture, seeing these relics from a by-gone age takes you back in time. It is fascinating to think when looking at the various torcs and jewels in the museum that these were once adorned on someone who lived hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ago. The workmanship that went into them. The intricate and fine details. The time the craftsmen consumed. The love and care that went into them. It all makes you think about how craftsmanship has been somewhat lost nowadays with the age of mass production.
Each of these relics or treasures is unique; each one has its own design and is the sole piece of its manufacture.
As for the bog bodies. When you look at the features, and the fact that they are so well preserved. You are looking at a person who lived more than two thousand years ago. These are the features of our ancestors; these are the people that evolved into who and what we are today. To think that the remains you are looking at once walked the ground this long ago, it is hard not to feel amazed by it.
These people were around before Europeans discovered the Americas. In a time before anyone knew that Australia and New Zealand existed. In a time of bloody wars and Druids. When the sun and the moon were the Gods, they walked the land.
They do not have the influence they did when they lived, yet they still have an impact on us. Like all the treasures of Ireland, they make us think about our past and how much easier our lives are now.