17th century coin hoard goes home

A hoard of 17th century gold coins found in a Co Tipperary pub earlier this year is back on “home” territory for a month-long exhibition.

The 81 coins were found in January by a group of building workers at Cooney’s Bar in Carrick-on-Suir, and it was later established the earliest coin in the collection dated back to 1664 and the reign of King Charles II, while the latest was from 1701 in the time of William III.

Now on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, they are part of an exhibition at the Tipperary County Museum in Clonmel which also includes other medieval artefacts.

The coins, consisting of 77 guineas and four half-guineas, were discovered by workers, including contractor Shane Comerford and pub-owner David Kiersey, Tom Kennedy, Shane Murray and Patrick McGrath, while they were digging a hole to prepare for a concrete pad in the front area of Cooney’s bar on Main Street in Carrick-on-Suir.

The exhibition featuring the coins will be officially launched tomorrow during Culture Night at the Museum.

Organisers expect it to be one of the busiest events at the museum in Clonmel and are encouraging school groups and community groups to book in advance.

Also on show will be a collection of Butler silver chalices, flagons and patens from Carrick-on-Suir’s Heritage Centre.

The culture night proceedings kick off in the museum at 7.30pm and feature tango dancing from 9 to 10pm.