Mayo’s Viking silver on display in Turlough

ON DISPLAY These Vikings silver-rings found by Kilmeena man Patrick Barrett in 1939 are now on display at Museum of Country Life in Turlough.

Ger Flanagan

The largest find of Viking silver bracelets in Ireland is currently on display as part of a new exhibition in The National Museum of Ireland, Country Life, Turlough.
The hoard of bracelets, which date back to around 880 AD, were discovered back in 1939 by Kilmeena man Paddy Barrett on his land on the shore of Clew Bay.
The eleven silver arm-rings and fragments of 14 others are now on exhibition in Mayo, alongside a Viking sword that was found in the River Moy. ‘The Hoard and the Sword: Echoes of the Vikings in Mayo’ will be on show in the Museum of Country Life until June 2017.

Discovery
Almost 80 years ago, a young Paddy Barrett discovered the ancient find when out ploughing his land at Cushalogurt.
The distinctive arm-rings are thought to have been made in Dublin by descendants of the Viking settlers, between 880 and 950 AD.
The items were used as a means of storing or circulating silver at a time before coins were used. When the silver was needed for trading, it could easily be cut off the arm-ring, which gave rise to the term ‘Hack Silver’. The decorative design on the rings suggest they also served as a form of jewelry.
When Paddy stumbled upon the hoard, it was his wish that they would go on display in The National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Accordingly, they were on show there – until they made their return to Mayo on June 23 of this year.
Following the find, a thorough search of the lands was carried out in the hope of finding more artifacts, but nothing was discovered.Paddy received a ‘finder’s fee’ of £22 for the artifacts.

Homecoming
Paddy Barrett, who passed away in 1993, was a father of nine, and some of his children still live in Cushalogurt.
“The Barrett family are delighted the hoard has returned to the National Museum of Country Life here in Turlough Park,” Paddy’s son, Colm told The Mayo News.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to visit and view this collection. We know Paddy would be thrilled at the prospect of the hoard returning to the county in which it was found, and also the educational benefits that can be derived from this display.
“We would also like to thank The National Museum of Ireland and Clodagh Doyle (curator, Folklife Division – National Museum of Ireland) for making this possible.”
The Viking sword that is also on display is believed to have been made in Scandinavia around 925-975 AD and brought to Ireland by a Viking warrior. It was discovered in the River Moy at Coolcronaun in 1963, after spending over a millennium lying in its waters.
The sword was found by Ballybunion native Eamonn O’Connor, who was living in Foxford and working with The Office of Public Works (OPW) on the Moy Drainage Scheme. Although it had suffered a considerable amount of damage due to corrosion, investigators could tell that it was a well-made sword that most likely belonged to a relatively wealthy and important warrior.
Dr Andy Halpin, Irish Antiques Division of The National Museum of Ireland, spoke of his excitement at these prehistoric pieces returning to the county.
“It’s exciting to see these objects back in Mayo, not just because that’s where they were found, but also to remind us that the influence of the Vikings extended throughout Ireland and not least Mayo.”