A priceless collection of Bronze Age gold items have been discovered at Ballinesker County Wexford.
The items were discovered two weeks ago when a Wexford gardener who was spreading topsoil on a customer's garden noticed a gold garment fastener and bracelet in the clay.
He contacted the National Museum who also searched the field in Ballinesker near Curracloe, from where the soil had been taken. Their search yielded a second dress fastener, three gold boxes and another object which may be a fourth box, although in its present condition is difficult to identify.
Mary Cahill, Assistant Keeper of Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland says the discovery's significance does not only relate to the physical items because it is
The first modern discovery of gold boxes.
And despite the fact that the items were found in different locations says Cahill,
There's plenty of evidence to confirm that in fact it was a hoard.
These artefacts from Ireland’s dim and distant past will go on public exhibition tomorrow for one week in the National Museum, Kildare Street. After that date, they will undergo restoration to their original state by a goldsmith.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 September 1990. The reporter is Kevin McDonald.
