In their proceedings for 1915-1916 the Society of Antiquaries of London note and report the following among the year's finds.

A hoard of nine specimens from Newport Co. Mayo belonging to the late Bronze age, according to the Society 1700 to 1500 BC

The hoard contained :

2 small socketed and looped Celts

1 socketed spear head

A fragment cut or broken from the blade of a large bronze sword

2 pins of the " Sunflower type "

2 flat-headed pins, one twice the size of the other

2 fragments of a small plain ring

The items seem to have lain in peat and so the "sunflower" pinheads are considerably corroded. The implements seem to have been part of a founders hoard to be melted down.

The interesting thing about these finds is a recorded occurrence of similar pins from a Swedish hoard found in a peat bog at Längebro in the Parish of Värdenge.

This could suggest that there was trade between Sweden and Ireland at this early stage. Did Newport bronze workers export items to Sweden or vice versa.

There are other Bronze age connections with the Burrishoole area.

For instance, standing-stones in the area may well be late bronze age landscape features.

Newport 49

Perhaps the two unique finds from the bronze age

in the area are the Dyra hoard now on view in the National museum and the Bronze age sword found in Beltra lake and in the caring possession of one of the Society's members.

The Dyra hoard is of gold pieces found while workmen were removing rocks from the land of Mr. John Dyra on the high Drumlin hill (through which the Southernmost of Newport's railway tunnels pass) in the townland of Kilbride. This hoard was buried under a large rock over a metre tall.

The items discovered were

2 bronze socketed axes

A gold bracelet

A gold dress fastener

The dates for the items are probably around 700-800 BC.

A full account and close description of the items appears in Cathair na Mart Vol. 8, No. 1 1988.

The bronze sword was recovered from the lake bed in Beltra lake. It measures over 16 inches and is in good condition. At the moment it is in private hands. Beltra lake may also boast a Crannóg - a lake dwelling, an island often created from nothing as a home for a family secure from the shoreline and whatever predators, human or otherwise, hunted there.

Undoubtedly there yet remain other hoards hidden under rocks and in bogs or secure places waiting to be unearthed.

Sources :

Proceedings of the Society on Antiquaries of London

Cathair na Mart Vol 8 No1 1988

Jack Geraty communication

Bronze age sword recovered from Lough Beltra

Picture contributed by a member