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Metal Detecting Finds in Ireland

1 published discovery in the Artefacts category from Ireland — coins, hoards, jewellery and artefacts recovered by detectorists and archaeologists.

Artefacts from Ireland

1 find

Showing only Artefacts found in Ireland. Show all Ireland finds, or see Artefacts from everywhere.

Ireland · Artefacts · Early Medieval · 2 Oct 2026

The Ardagh Chalice: Ireland's finest early Christian treasure, dug up with the potatoes

In 1868 two young men digging potatoes in a ringfort near Ardagh in County Limerick found a silver chalice, a bronze cup and four brooches. The chalice is one of the masterpieces of early Irish metalwork.

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A specialist feed bringing together metal detecting discoveries, archaeological finds and treasure stories from around the world.

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Before you dig

Finding things is the easy part. These are the people who make a find count for something.

The Code of Conduct NCMD — permission in writing, backfill your holes, report what matters
Find your Finds Liaison Officer PAS — the person who records your find properly, free of charge
Search the PAS database Over a million recorded objects, and a good way to identify your own
National Council for Metal Detecting Advice on permissions, landowner agreements and insurance

Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland

Those four are for England and Wales, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme records finds and the Treasure Act decides what must be reported.

Scotland runs its own system, and every find is reportable there — not only treasure. Treasure Trove Unit ›

The Republic of Ireland is different again, and severely so. Searching for archaeological objects without the Minister’s written consent is a criminal offence carrying fines or imprisonment, and the definition is broad enough to cover coins, buttons and buckles of almost any age. Do not assume British rules travel with you. The law, from the National Museum ›

Northern Ireland is stricter still. The Treasure Act applies and finds go to National Museums NI within fourteen days, but any searching that involves digging — metal detecting expressly included — needs a licence, and licences are only granted for archaeological projects. National Museums NI ›

This site covers discoveries from all over the world, and so does the variation in the law — from a recording scheme that thanks you, to a criminal offence. Wherever you are searching, find out what applies there before you go, not after.

Found something? What to do next › · Buying or selling a find? What is legal to sell, and where ›