Ancient remains to return to Mullingar

The National Museum of Ireland is to return the remains of four individuals, interred during the 13th to 15th centuries, to Mullingar.

The return is at the request of Most Rev Michael Smith, Catholic Bishop of Meath who has arranged for a ceremony of reburial of the remains in the grounds of Mullingar Cathedral on August 15, with the agreement of the Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Dr Patrick Wallace.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue announced the decision today.

The museum became involved in the retrieval of the disturbed human bones at a site in Mullingar in 1996. Having been examined by the State and based on local information, it was concluded the remains were associated with a medieval monastic graveyard site in Mullingar.