Hogan slams 'disrespectful' response to call for return of artefacts

A “slap in the face for Athlone” was how Cllr Paul Hogan described a response from the British Museum to a request for the return of all archaeological artefacts from Westmeath to their rightful place of origin at the February meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District.

The Independent Cllr had requested the repatriation of all the artefacts by way of a motion he brought before the November meeting, at which he stated that many of the objects had been “taken under British colonial rule.” On foot of the motion the council agreed to write the the museum.

The response from the British Museum, which was read out to last week's meeting by District Administrator, Frank Dolan, indicated that just 17 archaeological artefacts from Westmeath, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, had been identified. The correspondence also said the council would like to gain a better understanding of “the scope of the request” from the council.

“This is a slap in the face for Athlone, and it's very disrespectful to the people of Athlone,” declared Cllr Paul Hogan, who said there were “at least 200” other archaeological artefacts from Westmeath in the British Museum, the vast majority of which he said were “in storage and not on display.”

Cllr Hogan said many people across Westmeath had a desire to share in the “archaeological history” of the county, and he urged the council to “keep the pressure on” to ensure that all the objects from Westmeath that are currently in the British Museum are repatriated.

In view of the large number of items of archaeological interest that are in the museum, he asked what plans the council have in place to display these items when they are returned.

Athlone Mayor and Green Party Cllr Louise Heavin suggested that members will need to “sit down” with the Arts and Heritage Section of Westmeath County Council to work out how to display all the archaeological artefacts. “Cllr Hogan makes a very good point about how we might display these objects because they certainly wouldn't fit in a corner of the library,” she said.