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  • NEWS
  • Martin wades into abortion debate

    As the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".

  • Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfall

    Limits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.

  • WORLD
  • Anger as North Korea launches another missile

    North Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.

  • How Star Trek predicted the future

    WHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.

  • BUSINESS
  • Warnings over future of eurozone

    The eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.

  • Bruton defends corporate tax rate

    Ireland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.

  • SPORT
  • Mayo’s statement of intent

    Galway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.

  • Wilkinson inspires Toulon to glory

    ASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.

  • LIFESTYLE
  • What Lenny did next

    LENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.

  • Clothes maketh you mad

    Trying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.



 




Country house collection to attract treasure hunters

All roads lead to Mount Congreve this weekend.

Rarity and quality will bring treasure hunters from far and wide to the magnificent house on the banks of the River Suir at Kilmeaden for what is undoubtedly Ireland’s finest country house auction in decades.

Notwithstanding the remark made to me by a director of Christie’s that it seemed easier to become a citizen of Switzerland than to acquire a temporary auctioneering licence in Ireland, the sale will be conducted by Mealy’s in association with Christie’s.

The Schreiber collection of salt glaze ceramics (estimated at €40,000-€60,000) will attract global professional interest. In all collecting categories the big money now is in pursuit of excellence and provenance and Ambrose Congreve’s collection offers both.

He was a determined, active, and discrim-inating collector over a span of more than 60 years. This auction will be competitive. Big hitters know all about it, not least because 120 lots from Mount Congreve brought in £3.4m (€4.2m) at Christie’s in London in May. But with estimates from 150 up there will be pickings for everyone.

There is wonderful antique furniture, rugs, chandeliers, Chinese ceramics, Oriental art, a magnificent library with over 250 lots, silver, plate, linen, and all the accoutrements of an exceptionally finely maintained country house down to a 1969 Rolls Royce.

Viewing is in the house, the sale will be conducted in a marquee in the grounds. Admission is by catalogue (€25 admits two) and viewing times are from noon to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm on Monday.

The sale is on Tuesday and Wednesday at 11am on each day. The catalogue is online at www.mealys.comHome

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