Tory Island comes to Cork

An unopened 1957 edition of Beckett’s “Endgame” and a fine Paul Henry are two star lots in Cork auction

PAINTINGS of Donegal often tend to be of the "Cold Mutton At Dusk, Lough Swilly" variety. But, as voters in the Donegal South West constituency prepare to vote in next Thursday's election, a serendipitously topical painting has come to market. Local Polling Booth, Donegalby Tory Island-born artist Orla Egan was painted long before the by-election was called and is included in Morgan O'Driscoll's Irish Art Auction scheduled for 7pm on Monday, November 29th at Cork's Radisson Blu Hotel. The estimate is €400-€600. Confident candidates could submit a reserve bid in advance. The picture would be the perfect "trophy" to hang on the wall of the Leinster House office for whoever wins the vacant Dáil seat.

Other paintings in the sale include a Paul Henry, still labelled with the original price of £6-6-0 (six pounds and six shillings – about €10) but now estimated at €35,000-€45,000 and a Gladys Maccabe titled Going to Mass.On Christmas morning, it might greatly please a parent who regrets how much Ireland has changed.

On the same day, at 4pm, Morgan O’Driscoll will hold a separate auction of silver, republican memorabilia and rare books.

Anyone planning to impress the relatives with a dazzling table-setting on Christmas Day won’t find a better jawdropper than a metre-high Victorian silver candelabrum centrepiece made by Eames Baker, London 1836. It once graced the table at Castlehyde near Fermoy, home of Ireland’s first President, Douglas Hyde and which is now owned by dancer Michael Flatley.

The glittering piece, which is engraved on the base with the crests of both the Bank of Ireland and the Hyde family comes with its own iron-bound wooden storage trunk so it can be tidied away neatly after the festivities.

Republican memorabilia – especially 1916-related items - may not inspire Yuletide cheer but could prove to be a shrewd investment. O'Driscoll has various lots on offer including a "full set of medals" awarded to Michael O'Reardon of Dublin Brigade, IRA for his service in 1916, and the War of Independenceand a "scarce" copy of Irish War News "Volume 1, No 1" dated Dublin, April 25th, 1916 with the famous headline: "Stop Press! The Irish Republic" – announcing the Rising.

Beckett, like Joyce, is more admired than read and a "sensational" copy of his 1957 play Fin de partie(known in English as Endgame) is described as "unopened".

Such pristine condition is of huge appeal to collectors and the estimate is €3,500-€4,500.