Irish TD Calls on Vatican to Return the Legendary Crown of Brian Boru
Mythology/Folklore/History
Wednesday 26th, June 2024
County Clare TD Cathal Crowe has made a passionate appeal for the return of the legendary crown of Brian Boru, urging that the historic artefact should be repatriated to Ireland. Though its existence and location remain unconfirmed, Deputy Crowe believes that the former High King of Ireland’s crown has been held by the Vatican for over a millennium.
Crowe has proposed forming a specialised team, akin to a “mini-Indiana Jones” squad, to search for this storied treasure, which has long captivated historians and enthusiasts alike. Brian Boru, a pivotal figure in Irish history, served as High King in the late 10th century, renowned for unifying Irish kingdoms and his notable victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
The current status and authenticity of the crown are subjects of debate among experts, as previously noted by Tánaiste Micheál Martin. Nonetheless, Deputy Crowe shared on Irish radio that he has recently been approached by descendants of Brian Boru, who are certain of the crown’s existence.
“The belief is that Donnchadh O'Brien (son of Brian), who lived in Rome towards the end of his life, donated the high king crown of Ireland to Pope Alexander II in the year 1064”, Crowe explained. “It’s unconfirmed, but the family is adamant that this happened; it’s been passed down in the lore of their family for many centuries, not just generations, and they’re asking that the crown be returned”.
In pursuit of this mission, Crowe has initiated discussions with various stakeholders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, academics, National Museum staff, the Office of Public Works (OPW), and diplomatic personnel in Rome. “I’ve asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs that he might look and we have lots of expertise in Ireland, academics, the National Museum staff, the OPW, and diplomatic staff in Rome", he stated. "I’ve asked that they might set up a mini task force, a mini-Indiana Jones team, if you like, to establish: does this exist? Is it somewhere over there? And if it is there, let’s bring it back to Ireland. It’s iconic and represents something very special about the statehood here in this country”.
Deputy Crowe also emphasised the importance of Irish artefacts being displayed publicly rather than languishing in storage. “A lot of our precious items are held by the British Museum and, as a historian, I’d have no problem with those artefacts being in Britain as long as they’re on display to the public and you can see them,” he said. “But I have a huge problem with artefacts that are Irish of origin lying in archive boxes, cardboard archive boxes in warehouses when they could very well be on display here in Ireland, be it in our national museums or some of our county or regional museums.”
Crowe envisions that if the crown is discovered, it should be housed in a prominent location such as Dublin Castle or Trinity College, where it can be viewed by the public. “If it does exist it belongs somewhere like Dublin Castle or Trinity College, somewhere central where it can be viewed by the public”, he asserted. “Sometimes these things unearth themselves when you least expect; this one could be sitting on a shelf in the Vatican, or maybe it’s just mythical. But either way I don’t think it’s an onerous task to delve into it a little bit”.
This initiative underscores a broader endeavour to reclaim and celebrate Ireland’s cultural heritage, ensuring that such treasures are accessible and appreciated within the country of Ireland.
Crowe has proposed forming a specialised team, akin to a “mini-Indiana Jones” squad, to search for this storied treasure, which has long captivated historians and enthusiasts alike. Brian Boru, a pivotal figure in Irish history, served as High King in the late 10th century, renowned for unifying Irish kingdoms and his notable victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
The current status and authenticity of the crown are subjects of debate among experts, as previously noted by Tánaiste Micheál Martin. Nonetheless, Deputy Crowe shared on Irish radio that he has recently been approached by descendants of Brian Boru, who are certain of the crown’s existence.
“The belief is that Donnchadh O'Brien (son of Brian), who lived in Rome towards the end of his life, donated the high king crown of Ireland to Pope Alexander II in the year 1064”, Crowe explained. “It’s unconfirmed, but the family is adamant that this happened; it’s been passed down in the lore of their family for many centuries, not just generations, and they’re asking that the crown be returned”.
In pursuit of this mission, Crowe has initiated discussions with various stakeholders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, academics, National Museum staff, the Office of Public Works (OPW), and diplomatic personnel in Rome. “I’ve asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs that he might look and we have lots of expertise in Ireland, academics, the National Museum staff, the OPW, and diplomatic staff in Rome", he stated. "I’ve asked that they might set up a mini task force, a mini-Indiana Jones team, if you like, to establish: does this exist? Is it somewhere over there? And if it is there, let’s bring it back to Ireland. It’s iconic and represents something very special about the statehood here in this country”.
Deputy Crowe also emphasised the importance of Irish artefacts being displayed publicly rather than languishing in storage. “A lot of our precious items are held by the British Museum and, as a historian, I’d have no problem with those artefacts being in Britain as long as they’re on display to the public and you can see them,” he said. “But I have a huge problem with artefacts that are Irish of origin lying in archive boxes, cardboard archive boxes in warehouses when they could very well be on display here in Ireland, be it in our national museums or some of our county or regional museums.”
Crowe envisions that if the crown is discovered, it should be housed in a prominent location such as Dublin Castle or Trinity College, where it can be viewed by the public. “If it does exist it belongs somewhere like Dublin Castle or Trinity College, somewhere central where it can be viewed by the public”, he asserted. “Sometimes these things unearth themselves when you least expect; this one could be sitting on a shelf in the Vatican, or maybe it’s just mythical. But either way I don’t think it’s an onerous task to delve into it a little bit”.
This initiative underscores a broader endeavour to reclaim and celebrate Ireland’s cultural heritage, ensuring that such treasures are accessible and appreciated within the country of Ireland.
