A life-sized portrait of James Butler, first Duke of Ormonde (1610-1688) sold for a hammer price of €120,000 yesterday.

Des O’Sullivan describes one of the highlight auctions of the year with contents from Lotabeg going under the hammer.

The house contents of Lotabeg — a time capsule of long-hidden antique delights — will be auctioned by Mealy’s in Cork next month.