Consortium secures purchase of Bronze Age sword for to be displayed at Fermanagh County Museum at Enniskillen Castle

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has confirmed the purchase at auction of a rare 3000 year old Bronze Age sword, which was found in the 1950s in Co. Fermanagh, and was recently put up for sale in Dublin.

The auction of the sword came to light when staff at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Museum Services were contacted by members of the public and a plan of action was put into place to secure the purchase of the sword.

A consortium of interested parties headed up by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and comprising the Association of Friends of the Fermanagh County Museum, Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, National Lottery Heritage Fund together with several private individuals secured the necessary funds to put together what was ultimately a successful bid to bring the sword back to Fermanagh.

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong said;

“I am delighted that the bid to purchase the sword was successful and I am delighted that the sword will be placed on permanent display at Fermanagh County Museum for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike. I am confident that this unique part of our heritage will prove to be a very popular exhibit.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Council’s Museums Services Staff, our partners in the successful purchase, National Museums Northern Ireland and Barney Devine, From Cuilcagh to Cleenish; a great place, for their assistance and support in helping to secure the piece.

I am very much looking forward to the return of this wonderful piece of history almost 70 years after it was first discovered here.”

Sarah McHugh, Museum & Heritage Manager said:  “It’s just been amazing in terms of the support that we have had to buy this sword. So many people pulled out all the stops to make it happen and I am delighted that this sword will stay in the county.”

Lough Erne Landscape Partnership Programme Manager Elmarie Swanepoel stated:  “The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership is thrilled to have been part of this collaboration to enable the safeguarding of this unique heritage item, ensuring the sword can be enjoyed by all for generations to come”.

Paul Mullan, Director, Northern Ireland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:  “We are delighted that National Lottery funding has helped to support the acquisition of this unique heritage asset, ensuring it returns to County Fermanagh. It’s exciting that local people and visitors will have the opportunity to explore its history for many years to come.”

Esdille Lappin, Chair of the Association of Friends of Fermanagh County Museum said:  “As soon as we heard about the sword, we arranged to give some funds to try to keep the sword in Fermanagh.”

Barney Devine said:  “With only a week’s notice that the sword was coming up for auction in Dublin, Enniskillen Castle became the centre of a team effort to secure it for the County involving Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, Friends of the Museum, a private donor and the museum itself. Other people in the wider community also helped and within five days the necessary funding was raised. This was collaboration in action and this important heritage item is now in public ownership. Congratulations to all involved!”

Fermanagh County Museum at Enniskillen Castle will reopen to the public on Monday 24 May 2021 and it is anticipated that it will be a few weeks before the sword will be available to be placed on display.

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