Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This morning in the National Museum of Ireland, 81 coins dating back to the 17th century will be handed over by those who found them approximately two weeks ago in my home town of Carrick-on-Suir. These coins are the most significant find since a previous find in 1947 in Laois. They were found in Cooney's pub, in the centre of the town, during renovations. That pub was in the ownership of cousins of mine for almost 100 years before the current owners took it over. In that context, I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, to return these coins, after the initial inspection and investigation, to the County Museum in Clonmel so that they can be housed there on an ongoing basis.

The museum plays a significant role in the culture of south Tipperary. It currently houses Ireland's first Olympic gold medal won by Tom Kiely from Ballyneal outside Carrick-on-Suir, the jersey worn on Bloody Sunday by Tom Hogan from Grangemockler, which is also outside Carrick-on-Suir, and all the memorabilia of Maurice Davin, also from Carrick-on-Suir, the first President of the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is only fitting that these medals be returned to the County Museum in Clonmel. I call on the Deputy Leader to initiate this process with the Minister, Deputy Deenihan. I have written to the Minister on the matter and will meet with him later today in the museum to discuss it further. The find is of great significance to the area. I understand some of the coins are so valuable their monetary value cannot be measured.