Dealers from all over the country in Cork for antique fair

Des O’Sullivan says Silver Springs Moran Hotel will be a mecca for treasure hunters this weekend.

More than 80 antique dealers from all over Ireland will attend the Cork National Antiques, Art and Vintage Fair at Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork this weekend.

The two-day fair, which gets under way today, is about four times bigger than the norm and will include no less than 15 traders who are members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA).

Organiser Robin O’Donnell reckons that there will be about one million items on offer. Among the 10 jewellery and silver dealer’s present will be Weldon’s of Dublin and Marie Curran of Dublin, both members of the IADA.

There will be antique furniture from dealers including Bridgend Antiques, Belfast; Ned Guiney, Cork; William Harnett, Co Limerick; Tom Lenihan, Cork, and Donegal Antiques.

Art dealers include Treasures of Athlone, vintage fashion from Eily Henry of Co, Waterford; vintage vinyl and train sets by Alec Chamberlain of Co Cork, and china and porcelain by dealers like Des Gallagher, Belfast; Brian Hurley, Kinsale, and Clanrye Antiques, Newry.

Roger Grimes and Vanessa Parker will bring books, prints, maps, engravings and collectibles such as an Irish famine chair dating to 1850, Victorian brass padlocks, and antique fishing tackle.