Madam, – I refer to the auction of Famine-related documents that will take place in Dublin next Tuesday, as highlighted by Sabina Purcell (May 11th).
Surely some imaginative tax arrangement could be devised that would enable such rare material to be acquired by a public body? Failing that, could it be mandatory for such material to be digitised before being sold to a private buyer, in order to ensure that it can be accessed by the general public? Otherwise, a unique glimpse into a key period in Ireland’s past may be lost to the public forever. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I concur with Sabina Purcell (May 11th): artefacts of historic, cultural and social significance to the people of Ireland should be either bequeathed to the State or purchased by the State, in the best interests of future generations.
I am curious as to why the State does not acquire artefacts such as those which were recently for sale: the original of Peadar Kearney’s Soldier’s Song, the Tricolour alleged to have flown over the GPO during the Rising, and various letters, photos and memorabilia of the Rising leaders.
Why is the National Musuem of Ireland’s policy on acquisitions and disposals (section 3.2.1) seemingly not being practised to the best possible extent? It states: “. . . the objects to be acquired will be of one or all of the following: be of national importance; have potential for display; be of research and educational use; be an artefact which will fill a gap in the collection”.
Why does the State continue to remain silent and inactive on the public sale of artefacts which would fulfil one or more of the above criteria? – Yours, etc,