Photos and letters belonging to Treaty Ports negotiator to go on display on Spike Island 

Tipperary native Patrick Maher negotiated the handover of all forts in Cork harbour to the Irish government in 1938 and later became manager of Shannon Airport

Patrick Maher was the officer commanding Irish troops who took over Spike Island on July 11, 1938.

The family of a man who helped negotiate the handover by the British of the Treaty Ports and later propelled Shannon Airport to prominence are preparing to share invaluable photographs, letters and documents to the museum on Spike Island in Cork harbour.

The memorabilia — the majority of which has never been seen before by the public — will throw light on the extraordinary life and times of Patrick Maher.