Birr Castle library items to go on sale in Dublin auction

A SELECTION of items from Birr Castle Library is going on sale in an auction in Dublin next week.
The items include a number of very rare astronomical photos from the 19th Century, including photos of the moon and nebulae.
The Birr Castle items are part of an eclectic collection of rare books, literature and memorabilia from throughout Ireland up for sale in the auction, which is being run by Fonsie Mealy Auctioners.
“We are pleased to present this highly important rare book & Collectors’ Sale,” a representative of Fonsie Mealy told the Tribune, “which includes a selection from the Library at Birr Castle on the instructions of the Trustees of the Oxmantown Settlement Trust; the Andrew Sharkey Fishing Collection; a Private American Collection of Seamus Heaney Material; & from other important Libraries and Collections.
“This Sale at The Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin on 30th & 31st May is one of particular importance.
“It contains a unique collection of Volumes on Astronomy, rare Photographs of the Moon, etc; fine coloured Plate Books on Natural History, Birds, Animals, Plants, etc; a good collection of Fishing Books; a large collection of worldwide Travel, many by Irish Authors; Scarce Maps and Atlases; Recently discovered Colonial Watercolours and Drawings by Sir William Young; large collection of scarce Irish Books to include the First English Limited Edition of Ulysses, signed by James Joyce, books by Yeats, Heaney, etc; Books on Agriculture & Trees; fine Bindings; Scarce Ephemera etc.”
The auction also includes rare Irish Republican Material including medals, letters, papers, cards, artefacts, etc.
There will be G.A.A. & other Sporting Memorabilia including the 1887 1st All-Ireland Football Medal, the Mick Darcy G.A.A. Medal Collection; match programmes, photographs, and other rare collectors’ items. The Mick Darcy GAA Medal Collection might have some interest for North Tipperary people as Mick Darcy was a famous hurler from Nenagh.
The Sale has approximately 1,100 lots, with a diverse range of items on offer.
Bidders can participate in the Live Auction through the following portals easyliveauction.com / the-saleroom.com or by arranging for absentee or telephone bids.
Each one of these platforms are already hosting the online full colour Catalogue for this Auction, and each lot is extensively illustrated with images. Anyone looking for additional images, condition reports or information about a lot is invited to do so under the link on each platform.
For more information about Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers and their upcoming Auction on Tuesday & Wednesday May 30th & 31st, please call + 353 56 4441229 / 56 4446200 or email Fonsie or George Fonsie Mealy on info@fonsiemealy.ie. On the Viewing & Sale Days please telephone: + 353 87 2027759 / +353 87 2751361
Or you can join them for their live Preview at The Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin A94 V6K5 on Sunday May 28th 1pm – 6pm / Monday May 29th 10.30am – 7.00pm.