Medals of Ballinhassig clerical war hero at Woodwards

Medals awarded to Archdeacon Tom Duggan — the first chaplain to be awarded a Military Cross in the Second World War — come up at Woodwards at 6 pm next Wednesday.

The Cork native taught at St Finbarr’s College and Seminary before joining up in September 1939.

He had been a chaplain in Flanders during the First World War and was taken prisoner in 1918.

His Military Cross, OBE breast badge and war medals 1939-45 are to be offered at Woodwards auction in Cork.

The MC is granted in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations. A book about Archdeacon Duggan by Dr Carthach McCarthy was published by Blackwater Press in 1994. Tom Duggan died aged 71 on the Cork Mission to Peru in 1961.

Bishop Lucey of Cork and Cardinal Cushing of Boston were among those at his funeral.

The sale is on the internet and Woodwards reckon the set could make up to €5,000.

The sale includes a set of Cork 11-bar dining chairs estimated at between €2,500-€3,000, an Irish Georgian “Wake’ table (€800-€1,000), a pair of William IV foldover tea tables (€2,500-€3,000), an inlaid walnut centre table (€2,000-€3,000) and a Victorian dining table (€400-€500).

Collectibles include a cased brass barograph (€300-€400) and a Waterford master cutter oval bowl (€1,000-€1,500).

Artists whose work will feature include Victor Richardson, Arthur Maderson and Declan Marry.

Viewing is from noon to 5 pm today, 2 pm to 5 pm tomorrow and from 10 am to 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.