The Pietà that Was Buried in the Bog: Kilcormac, Co Offaly

At first glance, the Pietà in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kilcormac looks like an ordinary religious statue, but this one has a back story. The 16th century sculpture was carved from a single piece of oak and placed in a church about a mile from Kilcormac. When word arrived in 1650 that Oliver Cromwell’s forces were soon to reach their village, locals buried the statue in the bog.

The Pietà remained buried for sixty years. By that time, only one man who knew its location was still alive. He was carried to the bog on his deathbed to point out the spot. When the statue was uncovered, it was found in perfect condition… a bog’s lack of oxygen famously preserves wood, butter, and even bodies.

Wikipedia: Kilcormac

Written by Liam Hughes

Liam splits his time between the US and County Tipperary, Ireland. In addition to providing private tours of Ireland, he spends much of his time hunting for broken dishes which he crafts into beautiful shard jewelry. Liam’s Tips | Website