Ardagh Chalice: Limerick homecoming of precious artefact on the agenda

LIMERICK City and County Council is to formally request that the Ardagh Chalice returns to Shannonside in time for the 2027 Ryder Cup.

The historic cup is currently on display at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

While there have been various campaigns to bring the treasure back to its home county, councillors now feel with the eyes of the world on Limerick during the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare, now is the optimum time.

At this month’s full meeting, Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan set in train plans to repatriate the chalice, which was discovered outside Ardagh by two local youngsters in 1868.

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The City West councillor believes the Ardagh Chalice could be displayed at the International Rugby Experience at O’Connell Street in the city centre - as well as its home parish in west Limerick.

She told Live95FM News that it would be “wonderful” to see the International Rugby Experience, which closed at Christmas, back open.

“It’s such a beautiful stunning building. I think that we’ve got an opportunity with the Ryder Cup to have our rich heritage and culture on display, perhaps in that museum,” she said.

Cllr O’Donovan added that given the investment in the Limerick Greenway near Ardagh, the chalice could also go on display for tourists there.

“How wonderful would that be, actually having it in Ardagh for the Ryder Cup? And then you would get people using the Limerick Greenway, bringing people to west Limerick and to Ardagh because it’s such a lovely village.”

Her motion received cross-party support.

Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely, who seconded it, said: “We need to start preparing for the Ryder Cup. I know the Ryder Cup team themselves, the organisation, look after all the golf. But it is important for us in council and Government to make sure we put our best foot forward for Limerick and the Mid-West to make sure anyone who comes here for the Ryder Cup gets the best possible experience of Limerick. To have artefacts like the Ardagh Chalice and other offerings in the city and county would be very important.”

Mayor John Moran said he sees no reason as to why items like the Ardagh Chalice cannot be decentralised.

But he insisted no talks have yet taken place with the National Museum of Ireland.

There was an attempt to bring the Ardagh Chalice back to Limerick in 2018 to mark the 150th anniversary of its discovery by St Kieran’s Heritage Association.

But the National Museum of Ireland vetoed the bid saying it had its own plans to mark the occasion.

The Ardagh Chalice forms part of the Ardagh Hoard.

Discovered by Jim Quin and Paddy Flanagan in 1868, it’s believed the chalice could have been deposited in either the eighth or ninth centuries.

As well as the chalice, the hoard contains a much plainer copper-alloy cup, as well as four brooches.

The dates of Ryder Cup 2027 were confirmed last week, with Adare Manor playing host to the tournament for a week, between September 13 and 19, 2027.