A late 17th century cavalry backsword carried at the Battle of the Boyne was sold at auction in Dublin yesterday for £8,000. It had been expected to make between £800 and £1,000.
There was tremendous interest in the basket-hilted sword and bidding was brisk in James Adam Salesrooms, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, and from those on the phone.
Mr James O'Halloran, managing director of James Adam, said the sword was bought by a private collector in Northern Ireland but he was not at liberty to disclose his name. There had been about 10 bids.
"There was a big cheer in the background on the phone when it was announced that he was the successful bidder. There was also a big cheer in the salesroom."
The blade of the sword bears the inscription, "Me fecit Solingen" (I was made in Solingen) and the hand-guard is inscribed by the sword's owner, "Wm Frith 1690". William Frith of Derrynar gan, Co Fermanagh, supported the Williamite cause and served with Conyngham's Regiment of Dragoons at the Battle of the Boyne.
The Friths of Enniskillen were descendants of the first Protestant martyr, John Frith (1503-33), who was burned at the stake by Henry VIII. His son, also John, settled in Enniskillen.
The specialist Irish Collectables Auction, comprising 712 lots, is believed to be the first dedicated entirely to items of Irish interest, and included banknotes, coins, military medals and militaria, agricultural, sporting and political medals and badges, historic documents and pamphlets.
Mr O'Halloran said there were more than 50 men at the auction and only three women, "as women are not usually interested in militaria".