1,200 year-old brooch pin latest treasure uncovered during Adare bypass works

The early Medieval artefact, housed in the National Museum of Ireland, hailed a 'remarkable find'

The early Medieval brooch pin discovered by archaeologists at Ardshanbally last year as part of excavation works for the Adare Bypass. Picture: Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography

A Medieval brooch pin dating from the 8th century is the latest treasure to be uncovered during construction works on the Adare bypass in Limerick.

The brooch, made of cast bronze, is just 12cm in length, and features blue glass settings as well as cast animal and abstract ornaments.

It was unearthed by archaeologists during a dig at Ardshanbally as part of excavation works for the ongoing construction before Christmas.

The brooch is one of more than 100 objects that will go on display at the National Museum as part of an exhibition called 'Words on the Wave: Ireland and St Gallen in Early Medieval Europe'.

The exhibition opens on May 29 will "explore the extraordinary journeys of people, books and ideas between medieval Ireland and Europe". 

It will also feature manuscripts from the Abbey of St Gall in Switzerland, some of which are returning to Ireland for the first time in more than 1,000 years.

Arts minister Patrick O’Donovan; Lynn Scarff, director of the National Museum of Ireland; and Maeve Sikora, keeper of Irish Antiquities division at the museum examining the brooch

Arts minister Patrick O'Donovan, who viewed the pin and other artefacts on a visit to the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street on Thursday, hailed the early Medieval artefact a 'remarkable find'.

 "This brooch really is a remarkable find, beautifully detailed and dating from well over 1,000 years ago. It shows what significant skill, talent and wealth there was even in early medieval period in and around Co Limerick," Mr O Donovan said.

Lynn Scarff, director of the National Museum of Ireland said: "The forthcoming exhibition of the Ardshanbally early Medieval brooch pin is a perfect example of State agencies and commercial archaeologists working together to preserve and make accessible our wonderful portable heritage. 

"The discovery of the brooch in a controlled excavation such as this, provides a good basis for us to nail down exact dates when fine metalworking was happening in Ireland and more specifically in the Limerick area."

This find follows on from previous discoveries including previously unrecorded pillboxes dating back to the Second World War that were discovered by archaeologists working on the Foynes to Limerick Road (including the Adare Bypass) last year.

About 300 of these defensive structures were built during the early years of The Emergency to help defend the country against invasion.