Bronze Age treasure set to draw curious horde

A PRICELESS hoard of Bronze Age treasure discovered last November is to go on public display.

Three gold torcs jewellery which could be worn as an amulet or a child's necklace bronze bracelets and an assortment of amber beads, were discovered by brothers PJ and Bertie Deane while walking along a Co Mayo beach.

However, it wasn't until Bertie Deane showed one of the torcs to a jeweller friend that their antiquity was revealed.

Cork city jeweller Tim Keane said he looked at the exquisite jewellery and at once realised that the items were very old.

He contacted the National Museum on behalf of the finders and archaeologists started digging on the remote beach where they uncovered further items now known as the Dooyork Hoard. The priceless hoard is believed to be 3,200 years old.

"I think Mayo is the rightful place for them to be exhibited as they were found there. We were always anxious that the hoard would stay in Ireland," Mr Keane said.

Mary Cahill, assistant keeper in the Irish Antiquities Division based at the National Museum, led the excavations at the Co Mayo site. "It's a very significant find. The find shows expert craftsmanship. Quite a number of weeks' conservation work went into them at our laboratories," she said.

The antiquities will go on show to the public at the Country Life Museum, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo from next Wednesday until January 2003. Museum marketing executive Bernie Byron said she was "absolutely thrilled" at the prospect.

"The museum opened last September and this first exhibition is naturally very important to us," Ms Byron said.