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THE ACCUMULATED WEALTH of an entire seventeenth century family has gone on display at the National Museum.
The collection of eighty one gold coins was discovered in Carrick-on-Suir in January by five construction workers; David Kiersey, Shane Comerford, Tom Kennedy, Shane Murray and Patrick McGrath, while they were undertaking ground works on Main Street in the town.
The men, as well as their friends and families were on hand, along with Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan, to witness the coins going on display.
Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Eamonn Kelly says that the hoard likely belonged to a member of the Catholic merchant class who was preparing to flee the country.
Minister Jimmy Deenihan is shown the coins by Eamonn Kelly
“The coins come from a particularly troubled era in Irish history, spanning the end of the Cromwellian war (1649-53) to the beginning of the Williamite war (1689-91) and the Penal Laws, which whacked Catholics, were in full effect,” Kelly told TheJournal.ie.
The theory we have is that the person was a member of the merchant class who was a very careful saver. The fact that all of the coins are Guinea coins tells us a lot. These coins were ninety one per cent gold and were accepted all over Europe and in America, so if the person who owned the coins ever had to leave Ireland in a hurry, they would have acceptable money.
The men who found the coins were all thanked by Minister Deenihan, who praised their “honesty and civic responsibility” in handing the coins over to the relevant authorities. Kelly echoed that sentiment, but was quick to dismiss the notion that reporting the coins to the authorities meant a loss of money.
“We have valued the coins, but wouldn’t want to say how much they’re worth just yet, but the lads won’t have lost anything by reporting it to the authorities.
“The State is often more generous than the black market because it encourages good citizenship.”
All images courtesy of Maxwell Photography
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Well if this was Russia we would all get 2 years plus for the way we speak openly here about our Government?? Ohhh and B I am not funded directly or indirectly by the US :p
Spot the CIA operative in our ranks. Scratch that, say a wrong word here and you’ll be outed as in the pay of the Rothchilds or Bilderburger Group…
This is the same band that erected signs in a central Moscow area a while back protesting AGAINST gay people and Jews.
These guys were indirectly funded by US Justice Department and deserved what they got.
2 years for a 55 second protest that hurt nobody is plain wrong.
If what you say is true then I don’t feel sorry for them but pussy riot and their beliefs isn’t really the issue.
The issue is, anybody against Putin gets banged up without cause.
Their failure is not that they protested, it’s they protested in a stupid way that left themselves open to charges and jail-time. That said, the case turned into idiot vs idiot, as giving them anything other than a suspended sentence hands ammunition over to those opposed to Putinville..
I think you will find they protested on pro gay rights which is why they are in prison Not against it, I don’t know about anti Jew
B Lowe , I just read up on them and they support gay rights. It’s in their lyrics and they have participated in gay pride parades. Where is your evidence in what you say?
They’re guitarist is cute.
Saw a movie recently about a women’s prison in Russia. They seemed happy but had great difficulty keeping their clothes on. Therefore I am sure they will be grand.
judging by the look of them id say being locked up with a load of women would be right up their alley
From a completely different angle… I bet sales of their albums are off the scales over there. They will make millions each while in prison. then think of the world tour they will get on release….
I dont even think the bleeding heart liverals whove eaten up their propoganda would stomach paying to listen to their drivel
And I thought the Yanks took religion too seriously, the Russians are worse now.
Putan ! As the French would say !
what a crazy ass country. love Russian women though.
Did they also organise a mass orgy in a public art gallery before? I read that somewhere before I think…..
mass orgy? how could you organise a mass orgy? would it not be the same as a regular orgy?
have your say