Two arrested at auction protest

TWO Sinn Féin members were arrested yesterday during protests against the sale of historical artefacts associated with the 1916 Easter Rising, including the first draft of the Irish national anthem.

The demonstrators were picketing at Dublin auctioneers, James Adam & Sons, where some items had already gone under the hammer.

Ógra (SF youth section) members entered the auction and distributed leaflets opposing the selling of important historical documents on the open market. They were then evicted from the auction and two were arrested.

“Today’s protest was to draw attention to the Government’s failure to intervene to secure historic documents,” said Ógra spokesperson Daithí Ó Riain.

“The Government should not allow such artefacts to be sold on the open market to wealthy individuals, either in Ireland or abroad.

“We believe that these important historical items should be in the ownership of the Irish people to be held and displayed in the name of, and for the educational and cultural benefit of, the Irish people.”

The Independence Sale has been billed as the most significant auction in Irish history, featuring 480 lots of previously unseen artefacts which chart Ireland’s struggle for independence - from the spark of 1798 right through to the declaration of the Irish Free State.

Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldier’s Song), written by Peadar Kearney in 1907, had been expected to attract bids of up to €1.2 million.

The manuscript was purchased by an anonymous telephone bidder for €760,000. The auction house believes it will stay in the country.

Sinn Féin TD Sean Crowe said the 1916 memorabilia “should be the property of all the people of Ireland”.

“This material should be on display in our museums for all to see.”

Other historical artefacts relating to the 1916 Rising for sale include the tricolour which is believed to have flown over the GPO during the rising, the original architect’s watercolour drawings showing the elevations of the GPO building and collections of Pádraig Pearse’s letters and poetry.

However, the auctioneers defended the right to sell off the 1916 memorabilia.

James Adams & Sons director Stuart Cole said: “We are surprised that our sale is the subject of this protest. This historic auction is the sale of privately owned items, many of which belong to the families directly involved in Ireland’s struggle for independence and will probably be purchased largely by other private individuals.”