A Great Find by Fishermen in Ballyshannon in 1916

Rare Ballyshannon Sword Hilt found at the Mall Quay

1st April 2020. Amazing discovery of a unique item in a fisherman's net at The Mall Quay area in Ballyshannon. The experts in Dublin identified it as rare and that nothing like it had been found in Ireland up to the 1920s. It can still be seen today. See what you think of this wonderful find. Please share.

2nd April 2020. Tomorrow's blog  takes a nostalgic trip on the C.D.R. railway to Creevy and Rossnowlagh meeting  up with train driver Joe Thompson, conductor Tommy McCafferty and stationmaster Mr. McMahon on the last journey. We also meet up with a woman and her brothers  who are very well known in Rossnowlagh as they wait for the train at Coolmore Halt.

Fishermen's Find at the Mall Quay in 1916

A 2,000 year old sword hilt was discovered close to the Mall Quay and Inis Saimer in Ballyshannon in 1916. Fishermen casting their nets dragged up from the bottom of the harbour, a bronze sword hilt with a short iron blade, on which part of the blade was missing, probably having fallen out when the hilt got broken off. The blade was encrusted with sand and shells and the fishermen’s catch must have been the subject of much talk and speculation around the hearths in Ballyshannon. It would have been especially interesting as the location was quite close to Inis Saimer, where the first settlers who came to Ireland had resided, and no doubt some early speculation would have connected the sword hilt with these early settlers.

Ballyshannon Sword Hilt found near the Mall Quay

Hugh Allingham Acquired the Sword Hilt

 However wiser opinion would have prevailed as to how this ancient sword hilt and blade, made of bronze and iron, came to be in the harbour. Finds are significant only if they fall into the right hands and as news of the discovery spread, the local historian Hugh Allingham was consulted. Hugh was manager of the Provincial Bank in the town and was a noted historian who was a member of the Royal Irish Academy and of the Royal Society of Antiquities. Hugh acquired the sword hilt from the fishermen and this was significant as it was now possible that its origin could be established. Hugh is remembered for his history of Ballyshannon which he wrote in I879, much earlier than the discovery date of the sword hilt.

2,000 Year Old French Sword Hilt Identified

On Hugh Allingham’s death in 1922 the sword hilt and other artefacts which he had collected were sold to a dealer. He in turn sold on the sword hilt to noted Donegal antiquarian, Andrew Lowry. A native of Ballindrait Co. Donegal, he was a well-known collector and lover of all things Donegal. He was the first President of County Donegal Historical Society and donated a number of artefacts which can be seen in the Historical Society Museum in Rossnowlagh. 
Lowry established that the sword hilt was unique in the Ireland of the 1920s as no similar one had been discovered up to that date. It was identified as belonging to the La Tené period around 100 B.C. 
Andrew Lowry also contacted the British Museum, in his endeavour to ascertain more about the sword hilt. They had a few similar artefacts in England it was soon established that it was an extremely rare find.

Original Sword in the National Museum in Dublin

According to the experts the sword hilt probably belonged to a French visitor to our harbour around 2,000 years ago. Another possibility was that somebody traded or imported the sword hilt. Andrew Lowry was aware that the Ballyshannon Sword Hilt was important in a national context as it was a unique artefact.  He also realised that it should have a more prominent and public home and not be housed in his private collection in Donegal. In 1926 the National Museum purchased the Ballyshannon Sword Hilt for £10. It is still in the National Museum today but a replica is in the Ballyshannon District Museum and a replica in the County Museum in Letterkenny

Limited edition  hardback available from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com and local book shops when things settle.