Operation to return Egyptian mummy cost UCC €34,000

A delicate operation to return an Egyptian mummy and a sarcophagus to Cairo cost University College Cork more than €34,000.

The mummified remains were given back to the Egyptian state by UCC after more than a century spent in Ireland.

The mummy and its ancient wooden sarcophagus were donated to the college in 1928 though exactly how they came to be in Cork is still a mystery.

A database of costs shows that just over €33,000 was spent on safely packing up the delicate remains for transport to Egypt late last year.

A sum of €7,927 was spent on packing materials and conservation materials including solvent, adhesive, foam and tissues.

That also included…