FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council has confirmed the purchase at auction of a rare Irish Bronze Age sword (c. 1,000-800BC) that was found in the 1950s in Co. Fermanagh and was recently put up for sale at auction in Dublin.

The auction of the sword came to light when staff at the 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.

The 21” x 1.5” sword was sold during an auction from Whyte’s Auction House in Dublin – the first lot in a collection of eclectic collector items up for auction.

It was the oldest item in the auction for the day, with an estimated price expected of €4,500 to €5,500, but eventually the sword sold for €7,000.

With fees calculated, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council purchased the sword for €7,500.

According to Whyte’s, the ancient sword was found in 1952 in silt at the side of Lough Erne near Riverside, Enniskillen. The sword was acquired from the son of the finder by the present owner.

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 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, [Local Coordinator of heritage-focused partnership project] 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,” she said.

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 said: “We are 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 Co. 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, of From Cuilcagh to Cleenish: A Great Place, 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 reopened to the public earlier this week on Monday, and it is anticipated that it will be a few weeks before the sword will be available to be placed on display.