A valuable Gothic suit of armour has been rediscovered and is to go on public display in Belleek Castle, Ballina.
It has emerged that the historic suit of armour had lain forgotten about for the past 10 years.
“It was literally forgotten in storage for a decade,” said Miriam Petersen, curator of the Marshall Doran Collection at Belleek Castle.
The Marshall Doran Collection is made up of more than 200 pieces of arms and armour from all over the world and can be viewed on escorted tours of the castle, normally from 11am to 2pm.
The suit of armour has now been buffed and preserved for future generations of visitors to the castle to enjoy.
Ms Petersen said she and museum assistant Brian McDonagh spent one month on the conservation of the valuable artifact, which dates back to the early 1500s.
“Brian finally assembled the piece with the greatest care on his custom-made stand,” said Ms Petersen. “The suit of armour is a great addition to the Marshall Doran Collection.”
In other work at the ancestral home of the Knox-Gores, the lounge and former drawing room of the castle has been given a new ceiling.
The original ceiling was pulled down in the 1950s.
“The castle is now shining in new splendor, and a great place to visit with friends and family,” added Ms Petersen.
