A network of souterrain tunnels have been discovered in Ballybarrack, County Louth.

Archaeologists were called in three months ago by workmen building a house nearby. Since then, they've discovered five ancient tunnels and they think that there may be more.

Over a thousand years ago this was a place of refuge for early Irish Christians. But now it's a storehouse of knowledge for Irish archaeologists.

Archaeologist Eamon Kelly steps into the past and becomes the first person to the enter the tunnel at the centre of the site in almost a thousand years. Leo Enright talks to Eamon Kelly about the discoveries made on the site. Human and animal remains have been found in other tunnels on the site as well as pottery, which is real treasure for an archaeologist.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 September 1977. The reporter is Leo Enright.