Skeleton of a Giant and Sword

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In 1910 newspapers from USA to Australia and Canada to UK,  reported the unearthing of a giant skeleton and sword somewhere in the above shown townland of Ballinahalla Moycullen.  Oddly the story wasn’t mentioned in the local papers and to date our efforts to source what eventually happened to the mystery skeleton and sword have failed.  Maybe someone in your family might recall stories about the event, if so, we would love to hear.

An interesting archaeological discovery was made a few days ago at Ballinahalla, near Moycullen.  Some workmen, in the employment of Mr. James Lardner, came upon a complete skeleton measuring 8ft 5½in., and subsequently unearthed a sword on which appeared in Gaelic the following: “Donach O’Keefe, A.D. 1231.”. Mr. Lardner had the relics removed to his house, and communicated the discovery to the Galway Archaeological Society.  The Montreal Star, 6 May 1910

Sources:

Belfast Newsletter, 11 April 1910
The Province (Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada), 7 May 1910
The North Devon Journal (Barnstaple, Devon, England), 14 April 1910
Worlds News (Sydney), 28 May 1910
The Wells Journal (Wells, Somerset, England), 14 April 1910
The Intermountain Catholic (Salt Lake City, Utah), 14 May 1910
The Gloucestershire Echo (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England), 11 April 1910
Advocate (Melbourne), 24 December 1910
The Nottingham Evening Post (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England), 11 April 1910
Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 11 April 1910
Mid Lothian Journal (Edinburgh), 15 April 1910
The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (New South Wales), 18 June 1910
Westminster Gazette (London), 9 April 1910
Globe (London), 11 April 1910