Cultural Restitution

April 23, 2021
IRELAND
SHARE ARTICLE

IRELAND

Updated September 2024

Below is a schedule of successful restitutions made by Ireland, together with other Irish restitution news. Entries are updated regularly


September 2024

Sinn Fein's new arts policy will prioritise the repatriation of artefacts 'stolen' from Ireland and will require its museums to cooperate with restitution requests from other countries

Thejournal.ie


January 2024

The discovery of a sacred warrior's stick in Dublin, seized from Chief Maqoma of the Xhosa nation during the South African wars of the 19th century, has led to calls for its repatriation

Irish Examiner


December 2023

First meeting of a new expert committee has been held to advise the Government on the restitution of historically and culturally sensitive objects held in Irish collections

gov.ie


November 2023

Isabella Walsh from Limerick has been inspired to repatriate a collection of 19th cent African and Aboriginal objects, collected by her father Larry Walsh

The Guardian


June 2023

Ireland's arts minister Catherine Martin announces establishment of a new expert committee to advise Government on issues relating to the restitution of culturally sensitive objects in Irish collections

gov.ie


December 2022

University College Cork has agreed to return a number of ancient items to Egypt, including a sarcophagus and mummified human remains

The Irish Times


December 2022

Trinity College Dublin has set up a Legacies Review Working Group to examine legacy issues, including the return of thirteen ancient skulls

The Herald Series


April 2021

The National Museum of Ireland announces they are ready to make full restitution of twenty-one Benin Bronzes in their collection

ARTFORUM


April 2021

The Hunt Museum in Limerick considers the return of a Benin artefact, on loan to its collection

Irish Examiner





More News


December 5, 2025
A rare and important 19th century gold hairpin once owned by Empress Tiruwork, wife of the Abyssinian Emperor Tewodros II, will be returning to Ethiopia following negotiations by the Royal Ethiopian Trust with the Rome auction house Bertolami Fine Art
November 25, 2025
In 2022 several western collections made a decision to transfer ownership of their Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Reassured by progress on the construction of a major new facility in Benin City, they understood their Benin artefacts would be exhibited in a new museum to be called the Edo Museum of West African Art
November 11, 2025
After years of delay and political distraction, the official opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum finally took place in the shadow of the pyramids on the evening of November 1st attended by monarchs, world leaders, heads of state and government