Vol. 404 No. 4
1 Mr. Deenihan asked the Taoiseach if several artefacts which originated in County Kerry and are now stored in the basement of the National Museum, Dublin 2, will be returned for display in the new museum being developed at the Ashe Memorial Hall, Tralee, County Kerry.
The Director of the National Museum has visited the site of the proposed museum at Ashe Memorial Hall and has discussed it with officials of the urban district council. Further discussions on the loan of material from the national collection will be pursued.
Will the Taoiseach give some guarantee that a number of artefacts which are now stored in the basement of the museum, and which are not likely to be displayed in the near future, will be returned to this new museum in Kerry? Will the Taoiseach say whether the artefacts displayed, such as the Lislaughlin Cross, will be lent to the Kerry museum and made available, especially during the tourist season?
I can give the Deputy a general assurance in regard to the items which are stored although it is a matter for the director to have a discussion with the curator of the new museum in Tralee, whenever he or she is appointed. With regard to the other items, again that is very much a matter for the judgment of the director as to which he would wish to keep in the National Museum and which might not be suitable for transport because they might be too fragile. These matters can all be discussed between the new curator and the director of the National Museum.
Because of the Taoiseach's acknowledged affinity with our county, I ask him to give all the support he can to this very worthy concept.
As the Deputy would expect, I would be 100 per cent supportive of it.
I thank the Taoiseach.
Has the Taoiseach information available to him in his file in relation to the possible list of articles which have accumulated in the National Museum? If so, will he give an indication of the types of articles available?
Yes, I can certainly do that. The items which are not on view at present are: Bronze Age Gold Box and Hoard, Early Bronze Age Hoard from Killaha, Knockmasarnut, Late Bronze Age Trumpet from Derrynane, Hoard of Trumpets from Chute Hall, Early Christian Killgublin Wooden Hanging Bowl and a Bronze Crucifix from Skellig Rock, which sounds very interesting indeed.
