The Tara Brooch is a treasure trove of Irish Celtic culture. Considered to be the finest Irish brooch ever found on the island, it can be admired every day in its display case in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
The Tara Brooch is said to have been made in the 7th century A.D. and discovered in 1850 by a peasant woman on the beach at Bettystown in County Meath. That’s why, contrary to what you might think, this brooch has no connection with Tara, the ancient kingdom of the kings of Ireland.
This peasant woman would then have sold the brooch to a merchant, who then sold it to a Dublin jeweller who presented it in his shop window under the name “Broche de Tara” to make it more attractive. At the time, Celtic Revival was the fashion of the day, and Celtic-inspired jewelry was the order of the day: so the discovery was a sensation!
Experts agree on the brooch’s great value, and the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin bought it in 1870 to exhibit it in its collection. It’s still there today, attracting thousands of visitors every day!
Technically speaking, the Tara brooch is an exceptional testimony to Celtic goldsmithing practices. It’s made up of many precious materials such as vermeil, gold, amber, silver, copper and glass. Magnificent semi-precious stones have also been added as inlays.
The brooch features Celtic interlacing, geometric shapes and particularly fine convolutions. The extensive work carried out on the object makes it the most remarkable brooch in the whole of Ireland!
You can admire it at the National Museum of Ireland. Admission is free, and you’ll find it in the wing of the museum dedicated to the Celtic collection. This is displayed separately, in a glass case by itself.
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