AN irreplaceable part of Ireland’s patrimony is to be auctioned off in London, though last Saturday President Michael D Higgins presided at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Heritage Council, writes Gerard Howlin.

Works of art by Peter Paul Rubens, David Teniers the Younger, and Francesco Guardi are among a small group of carefully selected Old Masters from Russborough House that will be sold at Christie’s in London in July.