The Grave of Santa Claus

We visited Jerpoint Farm Park, saw the remains of a medieval village and what may be the grave of St. Nicholas of Myra. The town was called New Town, and was apparently an important shrine in the middle ages. A tour given by owners Joe and his wife Maeve after she fed us a lunch that included delicious scones. They originally moved from Northern Ireland onto this undeveloped plot of land, intending to raise cattle. However, the British Archaeological Society informed them that their new farm contained an important historical site. It could not be used for cattle, but it might be used for sheep. However, in 2015 the sheep market hit bottom, and the new owners supplemented their income by offering tour groups the opportunity to see the grave of St. Nicholas of Myra. We met their daughter Annabelle. Joe is convinced that when Muslims captured Asia Minor, monks from Myra brought the body of St. Nicholas to "the end of the earth," according to their instructions. Archaeological investigations seem to support the notion that Newtown was an important pilgrimage site. The carving on the top of the tomb does seem to represent a bishop wearing a pallium. There are, however, other sites contending for the honor of housing the grave of St. Nicholas--one much closer to Myra in Asia Minor.Read more