Sir, – In considering the private versus public ownership of 1916-1923 artefacts, Prof Diarmaid Ferriter dealt at length with the buyers of these artefacts, and not at all with the sellers ("Unseemly trading in artefacts dishonours history", Opinion & Analysis, October 26th).
The unpleasant truth is that oftentimes the survival of historical artefacts is dependent on the existence of buyers, yet Prof Ferriter gives no consideration to the collector as preserver, as private archivist, or as (unpaid) historian of these artefacts – in the face of, at best, inaction by Government, or at worst, potential destruction by owners or sellers who couldn’t care less about “this old junk”.
Of course it would be wonderful if State institutions could own an example of every item ever constructed, written, handled or worn by every Irish person who ever participated in any historical event, ever – but until that day arrives, private collectors are often doing the State a service. – Yours, etc,
MICK O’FARRELL,
Dublin 16.