Picasso etching boosts cathedral fund

An auction at Fota House in aid of conservation work on Cork’s iconic St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, saw a Maternité etching by Pablo Picasso make €2,300 and a Picasso engraving make €500.

Picasso etching boosts cathedral fund

A bottle of Chateau Petrus Pomerol donated signed by Michael Flatley went for €1,100, less than the €2,000-€3,000 estimate. Tea with Bishop Colton was bought for €150 while a weekend at Glenstal Abbey was bought for €200.

An 18th century Cork Silver tazza by William Clarke went for €8,000 when it could have been expected to make up to €12,000. Another silver brandy saucepan by Clarke was also picked up for €7,500 when it too could have been expected to make up to €12,000.

The auction was conducted pro bono by Sheppard’s Irish Auction House. The firm recently conducted a similar auction in aid of Christchurch in Dublin.

Other items for auction included stone sphinxes, an Irish George II library chair, an 18th century Irish breakfast hall table, a signed Irish William IV sundial and a platinum and diamond ring.

“There has been a huge reaction to the auction,” says Dean of Cork, Very Reverend Nigel Dunne. “People recognise the building as being very important to Cork. It belongs to everyone in the city.

“The conservation of the cathedral has been ongoing for the last 15 years, with the most recent phase being the rebuilding of the historic cathedral organ. About 500,000 is needed to complete the organ project. To finish all the conservation work, the Church needs between €2.5m and €3m.”

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