This file consists of correspondence, legal documents, background research and material relating to the case from 1980-81 including a folder marked "Museum Legal File" which contains photocopies of correspondence etc., numbered.
Material includes copy of typescript of manuscript received from Mr Michael Webb on 24/02/1980; typed statement from Breandán Ó Ríordáin (BÓR), Director of National Museum of Ireland (NMI) on the discovery of the hoard of objects, c.26/02/1980; typed document labelled "Meeting 28/v/1980 AG's office"; photocopies of correspondence between BÓR, director NMI, Michael Ryan, Keeper of Irish Antiquities and R MacGiolla Easbuig [aka Dick Gillespie], Department of Education [which funded NMI], 18/04/1980-03/03/1981; photocopy of letter from assistant secretary to the Government, to private secretary of Department of Education in relation to chalice and other items being sent to British Museum for restoration treatment 27/08/1980; photocopies of letters from Mathew Russell, Office of the Attorney General to Secretary of Department of Education in relation to payment of finders' award, 17/09/1980, 09/01/1981; copies of correspondence between L Ó Laidhin, Secretary, Department of Education and Mr FJ O'Donoghue, Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance, 26/09-29/10/1980; correspondence between Jim Tunney, Minister of State and Michael O'Kennedy, T.D., Minister for Finance 13/11/1980; photocopies of newspaper articles on various hoard discoveries; handwritten case notes; photocopy of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 921 (1981) 1 on metal detectors and archaeology (provisional edition ); photocopy of "Memorandum for the information of the Government The Derrynaflan Hoard" 27/02/1981; photocopies of correspondence from Mathew MacNamara solicitor for John O'Leary and Denis O'Brien, owners of the land on which Webb made discovery to BÓR, director of NMI 31/03-11/08/1980; photocopies of correspondence from Denis Murphy, Manager, Allied Irish Bank, Cashel, County Tipperary where John O'Leary and Denis O'Brien have an account, to BÓR and Michael Ryan, NMI 22-25/08/1980; photocopies of correspondence between BÓR and Michael Ryan 30/70/1980; photocopy of draft letter from Michael Ryan to Mr O'Brien and Mr O'Leary in relation to the archaeological objects found on their land 02/1980; photocopy of part of text of address by the Minister for Finance, Michael O'Kennedy T.D. to the AGM of Littleton (Co. Tipperary) Cumann of Fianna Fáil, 15/03/1980; photocopies of correspondence from BÓR to John O'Leary 06/03/1980; photocopy of typed statement from Mary Cahill to BÓR in relation to visit to site, 26/2/1980; photocopy of typed statement from Michael Ryan relating to visit of Michael Webb to NMI.
Material in this subsubseries relates to the case of Webb v Ireland, and the ownership of archaeological objects discovered by members of the public.
Michael Webb and his son, also called Michael, discovered a significant hoard of early church treasure in Derrynaflan, County Tipperary, using metal detectors, February 1980. The large monastic enclosure in which the hoard was found was partially protected as a National Monument. The Webbs reported their discovery to Dr Elizabeth Shee Twohig, an archaeologist from University College Cork, who advised them to take the finds to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. Under Irish law at that time, the finders were entitled to a reward for making the discovery, in this case decided at IR£10,000. This was initially rejected by the Webbs as insufficient compared to the value of the find. On 10/12/1986, the High Court ruled that the find or its value (estimated at IR£5.5 million) should be returned to the Webbs. This was appealed and on 16/12/1987, the Supreme Court ruled that the Derrynaflan Hoard in fact belonged to the state and not to the finders but ordered that the finders be paid the same amount as the land owners, because the finders had been promised honourable treatment, and thus had a legitimate expectation with regard to the reward. The finders finally received a reward of £50,000 (£25k each). The Derrynaflan Hoard is on permanent display at the National Museum of Ireland.
The impact of the case on Irish law concerning the protection of heritage was significant. In 1987 the National Monuments (Amendment) Bill, which included a clause on metal detecting, passed through its final stages in the Dáil Éireann (lower house of the Irish Parliament). A further National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 specified the state ownership of archaeological objects, and made it ‘an offence to trade in unreported antiquities, or withhold information about archaeological discoveries’ . Under the 1994 legislation, the maximum penalty was also increased to a fine of IR£50,000 and five years’ imprisonment.
[Archivist's Note 1: Mary Robinson is nominated to this case as Senior Counsel (SC) by Attorney General on 10/12/1985 - some of the earlier material in this subseries is used at a later date as part of her research into the case, and/or as material which was submitted to court)
Archivist's Note 2: some material refers to "the royal prerogative", which is more commonly known as the rule of “Treasure Trove” and which exists in the UK, where any treasure found belongs to the crown.]
Edition of "We Shall Overcome . . . The History of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland 1968-1978. Published by the N.I.C.R.A. and printed in New York, U.S.A. No single author identified. Book outlines the establishment, growth and origins of the N.I.C.R.A. and also outlines events and cases of civil rights abuse in Northern Ireland which instigated the Civil Rights Movement. Photocopy of the book is also included.
Letter from W.E. Ruttledge to George Ormsby relating to genealogical matters.
Printed flyer / handbill from Globe Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, production of "We Must Kill Toni!"by Ian Stuart Black, starring Genevieve Lyons, Norman Rodway and others.
Black and white photograph from Globe Theatre production of "We Must Kill Toni" by Ian Stuart Black and staged in Dun Laoghaire. Pictured include Genevieve Lyons and Donal Donnelly.
- Flyer advertising the play 'We Do It
- For Love' by Patrick Galvin, directed by Mary McCracken, at the Lyric Players Theatre, Ridgeway St., Stranmillis, Belfast from 7-23 Apr 1976.
Lilac poster for the play 'We Do It For Love' by Patrick Galvin, directed by Mary McCracken, and performed by the Lyric Players at the Everyman Playhouse, Cork, from 6th October. On the back is a list of the cast and other information relating to the production and some advertising.
Offprints of two articles:
'Cliff-top megaclast deposits of Ireland, a record of extreme waves in the North Atlantic - storms or tsunamis?' by D Michael Williams and Adrian M Hall (2004);
'Marine Erosion and Archaeological Landscapes: A Case Study of Stone Forts at Cliff-Top Locations in the Aran Islands, Ireland' by D Michael Williams (2004);
Copy of a letter from Robinson to Williams about the papers, enquiring about some of the calculations the author used relating to the storm beach around Dúchathair, and Dún Aonghusa. (16 Aug 2004). Reply from Williams (23 Aug 2004).
A newspaper clipping from The Sunday Tribune on the threat of tsunami to the Aran Islands (22 Aug 2004).
Two pages of hand-drawn calculations by Robinson.