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.

Details of Munch’s The Scream — one of the world’s most iconic paintings of which there are only four copies, but also the world’s most stolen painting.

FRANK GILES, an editor of The Sunday Times during the ’80s wrote: “The welcome at Russborough was invariably warm. Alfred and Clem, warned no doubt by the sound of the Jaguar’s tyres on the gravel, would be at the ready in the great hall, genuinely delighted by the sight of their guests.”

Almost €20m is to be spent this year on the upkeep of some of the country's most historic buildings, it was revealed today.

EXPERTS involved in the investigation of stolen art here have described as folklore the idea that those behind the theft of The Scream have a buyer prepared to pay millions to view the piece at leisure in a darkened basement.

A couple, who hid oil paintings worth over €18m stolen from Russborough House in the attic of their Clondalkin home, have been jailed, one for six months and one for a year.

A COUPLE are due back in court today on charges of handling paintings stolen from the Beit Collection at Russborough House in Co Wicklow last September.

Gardai have recovered five paintings stolen from Russborough house in Blessington last September.

A GANG of thieves that stole five priceless paintings may finally force the closure of Russborough House, the stately pile that houses one of the State’s finest art collections.

House to house checks and inquiries are now underway in the area around where five paintings were stolen at the weekend.

A major security operation and investigation is still underway this morning at Russborough house in Co Wicklow.

A man was today granted bail after he faced a court charged in connection with the theft of two valuable paintings from an Irish collection.

A man is due in court today charged in connection with the theft of two valuable paintings from an Irish collection.

An armed gang that stole two old masters worth more than £3m from an art collection in Co Wicklow were tonight thought to have slipped out of the area - despite having to flee on foot.

Gardai are today investigating the theft of two paintings valued at a total of £3m from Russborough House, Co Wicklow.