How you can see John Lennon's long-lost guitar in Ireland — for one week only
Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, with John Lennon's Framus 12-string hootenanny acoustic guitar. Picture: Nina Val
Irish Beatles fans and music lovers have the opportunity to lay their eyes on John Lennon’s long-lost guitar for one week only, before it is expected to fetch a record price at auction in the United States.
Lennon’s Framus 12-string hootenanny acoustic guitar was recently found in an attic in England after 50 years on the missing list. The guitar was used by Lennon in the recording of The Beatles’ Help! album and film, as well as featuring in some of the band’s greatest hits from the 1960s.
The guitar has made a surprise pitstop in Ireland en route from Britain to New York, where it is to be sold at Julien’s Auctions’ Music Icons two-day auction event at the end of the month and expected to exceed its estimate of $600,000-$800,000 (€562,000 - €748,000). It could make history not only as the highest-selling Beatles guitar but potentially the highest-selling guitar ever sold at auction.
Executive director of Julien's Auctions and Westmeath man Martin Nolan says it is a remarkable find and one he is delighted to bring to the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge, Co Kildare.
“My motto to everyone is ‘check your attic’,” he says, describing how a helpful son was clearing out an attic ahead his elderly parents’ house move and came across the find of a lifetime.
“While the son was going through the boxes, he found this guitar. He always knew there was a guitar that was gifted to his dad, but never realized that it still existed. He actually never saw the guitar, he's probably about 50 years of age. The owners of it, his parents, thought it was lost because they had moved house and it just went from attic to attic. Suddenly going through and searching boxes and everything going to the skip, they uncovered this guitar.”
Lennon was killed in 1980 by a Beatles fan and his bandmate, Ringo Starr, was reunited with his late friend’s iconic guitar in recent days.
“Last Saturday, we took her to Ringo Starr and Ringo played it and took photographs with it. He felt that he was reunited with a long lost friend — with a little help from his friends at Julian's Auctions,” Nolan added.
Along with Adam Clayton’s Fender guitar from U2’s Achtung Baby Live At Sphere gigs in Las Vegas (estimated between $50,000 - $70,000 / €47,000 - €65,000), Lennon’s guitar is on display in Kildare until May 8 before being whisked Stateside for auction and Nolan is encouraging fans to lay their eyes on it while they have the chance.
“We love the fact that it's here in Ireland. We always get a great response to exhibitions we bring to Ireland because people appreciate this stuff. They love it. And the story behind it makes it so amazing. People are really curious about it. It's a beautiful guitar.”
Nolan was speaking at the Museum Of Style Icons following the launch of the Iconic Costumes of the Irish Silver Screen exhibition in association with the Irish Costume Archive Project. The collection features costumes from some famous Irish films and actors. Nolan says tourists will be drawn to the exhibition thanks to the current buzz around Irish film and acting, particularly after Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win for Oppenheimer.
Costumes featured in the exhibition, which is open now and free of charge, are from films including The Banshees of Inisherin, Michael Collins, Braveheart, and Breakfast on Pluto, which stars Cork’s latest Oscar winner in his earlier days of acting.
“It's just really amazing,” Nolan says of the exhibition. “These items are designed and made here in Ireland and are now on display in the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, celebrating Irish designers and celebrating the Irish contribution in Hollywood.
“It really gives tourists an opportunity to see that Ireland is a small country and yet, we create all these amazing outfits that bring movies to life.”
- The Museum of Style Icons at the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare is open seven days a week and admission is free. The Iconic Costumes of the Irish Silver Screen exhibition will run for one year.
- Julien’s Auctions’ Music Icons auction takes place on Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30 at Hard Rock Cafe in New York and online at juliensauctions.com.
