Auctioneer Aidan Foley, who has a well-worn path between his salerooms at Doneraile, Co Cork, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, and Kilcolgan, Co Galway for the past three decades, is holding his last ever auction in his Sixmilebridge saleroom, following the sale of the unit to a supermarket chain.
The former Barron’s Hall in the Co Clare village, which some will remember from the showband era, holds fond memories for many- some of whom may have met their other half in the ballroom, only later to furnish their homes through auctions held there by the late John Dunphy.
The three-day sale, which will take place online from October 2nd to 4th, has almost 2,000 lots of furniture, Persian carpets, Irish art, Waterford glass, silver and jewellery, as well as 30 lots of whiskeys.
The selection on offer is testament to the sheer array of what has been passing through Foley’s auction rooms for almost 30 years, and includes a good quality mink coat (€300-€600); an Andreas Zeller double bass (€400-€600); a limited edition lithograph by Salvador Dalí (€600-€1,000) – and everything in between.
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Highlights include what Foley describes as an “exceptional 19th-century campaign bookcase” (€1,500-€2,000), which he says is very rare. Campaign furniture was used by senior military officers while travelling and often taken to the front line of battle. Two more piece of campaign furniture also feature, in the form of 19th century mahogany tables, that fold for storage, with estimates of €500-€800, and €600-€1,000.
Art includes works by Paddy Copperwhite, Thomas Ryan, Christy Doran, along with Graham Knuttel, Michael Hales and John Morris.
Whiskeys include a collection of ten bottles of Limerick Thomond Gate Irish (€2,000-€3,000); a set of nine single malt Scotch “Game of Thrones” limited edition (€600-€1,000); and Macallan Single Malt Scotch “Rare Cask”, estimated at €300 to €500.
Moonhaven memorabilia
Props from Moonhaven will be offered for sale in a two-day online sale by Sean Eacrett on October 5th and 7th. Filmed in Kilternan, Co Dublin, the series premiered in July 2022, starring Dominic Monaghan and Kadeem Hardison. The Peter Ocko directed series depicted a quasi-utopian community on the moon – with the intentions to develop means of survival to save a ravaged earth.
Collectable lots include the water bottle hero Paul Sarno (Monaghan) used when his earth mother was dying (lot 1225, €30-€50).
Four Knapp AMS electric bicycles also feature. Grained for the show, these pieces normally retail at €2,250, and are expected to fetch between €300 and €500 apiece.
Oddball props include a tall horned green man standing on a bed of skulls (€200-€400), while a two-headed7643w screaming monkey (€60-€100), and an old timber loom (€50-€80), are an indication of the complete range of curiosities in the near 1,500 lots on offer.
Kerry fair
The Kerry Antiques, Art and Vintage Fair, which was to take place on Sunday, October 8th, at Ballygarry Estate Hotel in Tralee, has been cancelled. Organiser Robin O’Donnell hopes to reschedule the event, which will cover everything from stamps and jewellery to coins and vintage clothing, in November.
