Irish Archaeologists Discover Remarkable 1200-year-old Brooch Pin

Irish archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable 8th-century brooch pin during excavation works along the route of the Adare bypass in County Limerick. This early medieval brooch pin, made of cast iron, measures just 12 cm in length and features blue glass settings and cast animal and abstract decorations.

It was discovered by archaeologists working for Archaeological Management Solutions, who were providing pre-development excavation services for the site on behalf of Limerick City and County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The brooch pin will be one of over 100 objects to be displayed at the National Museum on Kildare Street in Dublin, as part of an exhibition exploring the journeys of people, books, and ideas between medieval Ireland and Europe.

Words in the Wave: The exhibition, “Ireland and St. Gallen in the Early Medieval Period,” will officially open on May 29th. The exhibition will feature manuscripts from the St. Gallen Monastery in Switzerland, some of which are returning to Ireland for the first time in 1,000 years.

Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, said: “We are grateful to Limerick City and County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the archaeologists at AMS Ltd. We have worked closely to ensure that ancient artifacts of this kind are properly preserved and passed on to future generations.”

Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Joanne Gaffrey and Prof. Cathal O’Donoghue from the National Museum examine the early medieval brooch pin discovered by archaeologists at Ardshanbally as part of the Adare bypass excavation works. Photo: Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography

“The upcoming display of the Ardshanbally early medieval brooch pin is a perfect example of how state agencies and commercial archaeologists work together to protect and make accessible our wonderful portable heritage. The discovery of the brooch in such controlled excavations gives us a good basis for establishing the precise dates when fine metalwork was being produced in Ireland, and more specifically in the Limerick region.”

Minister for the Arts, Media, Communication, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, described the brooch as “a remarkable find, over 1000 years old, with beautiful detailing.”

“This shows just how much significant skill, talent, and wealth was in Limerick and the surrounding area even in the early medieval period,” he said. “The National Museum is a very important institution for Ireland, housing artifacts of this caliber and providing invaluable insights into early Irish culture.”

Irishtimes

Cover Photo: The early medieval brooch pin was discovered by archaeologists in Limerick. Photograph: Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography