A face from Irish prehistory

How the Mitchelstown Face Cup—hand-made by a Bronze Age potter—continues to stir a sense of wonder, some 3800 years later





In the following video artist Fiona Mulholland explains her inspirations and ambitions for The Face Cup art installation she created for the Island City: Cork’s Urban Sculpture Trail


Where are the original artifacts now?

The Face Cup, and all other archaeological objects found during the excavations on the N8/N73 Mitchelstown Relief Road Project, have been deposited with the  National Museum of Ireland , in accordance with the requirements of the National Monuments Acts.

The Face Cup has recently undergone further conservation work in the National Museum and is to return to public display in 2025.

The National Museum plans to include it in the Changing Ireland exhibition in Collins Barracks, Dublin, in early 2025. Later in the year the  Cork Public Museum  are hoping to exhibit it as part of the events marking the museum's 80th anniversary, after which the Face Cup will return to the National Museum for permanent display in the prehistoric Ireland exhibition in the Archaeology Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin.

In the meantime, if fair winds bring you to Cork City, why not take the opportunity to gaze up at the larger-than-life artworks, dramatically perched against the city's old Exchange Building (see location map below), and ponder how the Mitchelstown Face Cup—hand-made by a Bronze Age potter—continues to stir a sense of wonder, some 3800 years later.

And so our story continues...

I am gone now. But this face, these things I created, live on.

Remember, I was here...just like you.