Man reunited with historic bog book

THE man who found a 1,200-year-old manuscript discovered in a Midland bog was yesterday reunited with the national treasure.

Edward Fogarty unearthed the book of Psalms while digging peat moss in Faddan More Bog, Co Tipperary, in July.

Yesterday he and landowners Kevin and Patrick Leonard saw the historic find, which is being kept in isolation at theNational Museum of Ireland.

The manuscript is the only one of its kind to have been discovered in the world.

It will be a number of years before its conservation is completed and it is put on public display.

“We have to feel proud that we are playing a part in preserving history,” said Kevin Leonard.

“We are only in this world a short time compared to this book which has lasted 1,200 years.”

The discovery was the third find on the brothers’ 100-acre bog in the last five-years.

In 2001 Patrick unearthed a leather satchel and two-years-ago they found a wooden vessel, both dating back thousands of years.

All three are currently lying side-by-side in a special conservation area at the museum.