Art: See what's in the frame at Limerick and Dublin sales

Des O'Sullivan previews a weekend fair in Limerick and art sales in Dublin

A dramatic Irish weatherscape by Camille Seaman at the National Antiques Fair in Limerick today and tomorrow.

St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and if you drive to Limerick racecourse today and tomorrow you can hunt for all sorts of treasures on this long weekend of national celebration. There will be dear little shamrocks and plenty of other expensive baubles too.

With its ample parking and ease of access, Limerick Racecourse has proved itself to be an ideal venue for this extensive quarterly National Antiques, Art and Vintage. With its antique shops, art galleries and vintage dealers this one will welcome a selection of new dealers along with members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association and regulars like Eily Henry with vintage fashion, Weldons with collectible silver and jewellery and Treasures with Irish art,

'The Rebuilding of Monte Cassino' (1951) by Patrick Hennessy at Adam's.

Newcomers like Rory O'Hanlon will offer a selection of metal objects in brass and bronze along with watches and Gloria Neumann offers antique furniture, porcelain and glass.

The Purple Onion Gallery will bring dramatic work by acclaimed photographer Camille Seaman who lived near Kilkee, Co Clare, for a few years. The National Antique Fair is a fully indoor event where you can expect the unexpected and even get a new collecting habit underway. 

Anyone for some colourful Murano or militaria?

A vintage headpiece at the National Antiques Fair in Limerick today and tomorrow.

In Dublin, viewings get underway next Friday (March 22) for upcoming sales of important Irish art at both James Adams and de Veres. The sale at James Adam on March 27 features some of Ireland's best-loved artists with estimates of from €500 to over €60,000 for The Bog by Paul Henry (€60,000-€80,000).

A number of paintings by Patrick Hennessy and Harry Roberston Craig from the collection of Pamela and George Fegan, a Dublin couple who were friends of both artists and bought directly from them, will feature. The catalogue cover lot is a 1951 painting by Patrick Hennessy, The Rebuilding of Monte Cassino, located about 130 kilometres southeast of Rome and the site of a major Second World War battle in 1944. This work, which has not been on the market before, is estimated at €10,000-€15,000.

'Eliza Doolittle in Dublin' by Sean Keating at de Veres.

Eliza Doolittle in Dublin by Sean Keating (€50,000-€70,000) is the most expensively estimated lot at de Veres sale on March 26. Based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw the 1965 work depicts a daffodil seller against a background of Georgian buildings and thunderous clouds. Sean Keating, along with many others, was vociferous in his condemnation of the destruction of Georgian Dublin which got underway in the 1950s.

Among the other highlights at de Veres are John B Vallely's Heading for the Final Sprint with a pack of cyclists in full flight and Letitia Hamilton's Wind Blown Tree, Killary. There is a collection of works on paper by Mainie Jellett. All catalogues are online now.