Mystery of Staker’s remains found in Limerick stays unsolved

IT HAS taken 17 years but it has finally been confirmed that human bones discovered in Kilfinane in 2006 are not those of Irish patriot Staker Wallace.

The commander of a local division of United Irishmen was executed in the town by the British in the lead up to the 1798 rebellion.

Staker Wallace (or Wallis) was arrested following an alleged plot to murder the local landlord, Capt Oliver who then offered his freedom in return for the names of other United Irishmen and the location of their weapons. Staker Wallace declined.

He was jailed in Kilfinane and flogged before he was publicly hanged and beheaded.

His head was then put on a spike above the Market House for a number of weeks before he was buried in the town.

The actions of the Irish patriot, believed to be from Bulgaden, were never forgotten.

He is remembered in song - A Lament to Staker Wallace; name of a GAA Club and a monument in Kilfinane.

Fast forward to 2006, when human bones were discovered in Kilfinane, when the local authority was carrying out urban renewal works in the town.

Locals believed that the remains of Wallace were among the bones found. It was thought a number of men were buried in the grave.

In Pictures: Hurlers make triumphant return to Limerick town

However, it appears Wallace was forgotten about for 14 years as the Limerick Leader revealed in 2020, through correspondence from the council that, “This project was put on a back burner due to ongoing pressure of work”.

Kilfinane man James O’Brien, who raised his concerns over the delay in 2020 with Minister of State Niall Collins, said: “Those bones lay forgotten for over 200 years. It’s a fright to God if they are forgotten again.”

Mr Collins said: “Sitting on skeletal remains for over 14 years, which are an integral part of the history, heritage and culture of Kilfinane is simply not acceptable”.

He called on the council to immediately begin the testing process.

Funding was sought in 2021 (under the council’s 2022 budget) with an osteoarchaeologist (scientific study of human skeletons) procured during October 2021.

Funding was confirmed in January 2022 and the bones were subsequently delivered to the osteoarchaeologist.

Cllr Mike Donegan revealed at last week’s Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District meeting that testing had shown they were not the remains of Staker Wallace.

Under any other business, Cllr Donegan said he had attended a talk on the bones organised by Kilfinane Coshlea Historical Society a few days earlier - at which Dr Linda Lynch, osteoarchaeologist and Sarah McCutcheon, the council archaeologist, gave a detailed talk and presentation.

“They said they are not the bones of Staker Wallace. It was revealed on the night that the assemblage of bones are those of five or six people, mixed up in 1,400 pieces,”said Cllr Donegan.

The Fianna Fail councillor said the question was raised at the talk: what will happen to the bones now?

“We learned that they will become the property of the National Museum of Ireland and will be kept in a box. People were flabbergasted.

Cllr Donegan said he intends contacting the National Museum of Ireland to ensure that the assemblage of bones can be brought back to Kilfinane for a Christian burial.

“They were buried on the side of the street in unconsecrated ground for hundreds of years - the least we can do is give them a Christian burial,” said Cllr Donegan.

In making his comments, he cited Trinity College recently returning 13 human skulls to Inishbofin- off the Galway coast.

The skulls had been stolen from the island over 130 years ago.