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  • EARLY AUTUMN IRISH ART SELLING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY

    September 12th, 2026

    Leo Whelan (1892-1956) – Portrait of Bishop Thomas Grace of Sacramento at Sheppards

    The summer light begins to wane and the early autumn Irish art sale season gets underway in earnest next week.  Sheppards will showcase exceptional works from artists like Louis le Brocquy, William Conor, Sir William Orpen, Leo Whelan, John Shinnors, Norah McGuinness, John Behan, John Burke, Patrick O’Reilly and more at their sale in Durrow on Tuesday September 15.

    The online sale of paintings, sculpture, prints, vintage posters and photography by Lot 100 of Lismore runs until next Tuesday.  Morgan O’Driscoll’s off the wall auction of affordable art will draw to a close from 6.30 pm on September 14.

    The strong sculpture selection at Sheppards is headed by John Burke’s Maquette for Kingfisher – Wilton Roundabout sculpture from the early 1980’s. Twisted Form by F E McWilliam, Emigrants by Eamon O’Doherty and Couple II by Joseph Sloan feature in a sale that includes five works by John Behan, three of Rory Breslin’s Clew Bay Masks series along with work by Mark Rode, Patrick O’Reilly, Nicholas Dolan, Michael Foley, Jarlath Daly, Oisin Kelly, Donnacha Cahill and other sculptors. Shawlie with Children, Quay St., Skerries, Co. Dublin is a rediscovered c1915 oil on canvas by William Conor while Leo Whelan’s portrait of Wexford born Bishop Thomas Grace of Sacramento  was part of a commission for All Hallows College in Drumcondra, Dublin. All catalogues are online.

    Alexander Calder (1898-1976) – Untitled III, a Maeght edition lithograph from 1963 at Lot 100.

    AN AUCTION OF IRISH HERITAGE BY VICTOR MEE

    September 12th, 2026

    The birth of the Irish Republic by Michael Rogers showing James Connolly on a stretcher inside the GPO 

    An historic Edwardian bookcase salvaged from the RMS Celtic, a rare oil painting from inside the GPO in 1916 during the Easter Rising and a collection of Killarney furniture are among a series of fascinating lots at Victor Mee’s Irish Heritage sale in Cavan on Tuesday September 15.

    The auction of 508 lots – more than a year in the making – brings together a selection of Irish history, craft and domestic life.

    In December 1928 just short of a century ago the White Star liner Celtic foundered on rocks off Co. Cork near Roches Point. Passengers were rescued, the ship was scrapped and there was a salvage operation.  This imposing four door bookcase was taken from the wreck a year later. Complete  with decorative glazing, marquetry panels and a brass letter box for post at sea it is estimated at €20,000-€30,000.

    A bookcase complete with post box salvaged from the White Star liner Celtic 

    The Birth of the Irish Republic is an oil on board by Michael Rogers, an Irish Volunteer who fought inside the GPO in 1916. At 54 he was one of the older Republicans.  His painting shows James Connolly on a stretcher with Padraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke and Joseph Plunkett looking on.  Rogers was released due to his age and subsequently reassigned to protect Pearse’s mother. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000.

    Around 50 pieces of Killarney wood with estimates ranging from €40-€60 (for two page markers) to €10,000-€15,000 (for a davenport) are on offer. There are sewing tables, a games table, a mirror, a rare nest of three tables and a big selection of Killarney boxes for various purposes. 

    The Irish heritage auction offers a selection including Irish vernacular furniture including an early 20th century pine hedge chair made by a Lough Neagh boat builder.  There is bog oak, Coalisland pottery, a ticket for the infamous Bloody Sunday game at Croke Park in 1920 and a prison art harp made in Long Kesh in the 1970’s.  The sale is on view this weekend and the catalogue is online.

    A Killarney wood box

    A NEW WORK FOR IRELAND’S NATIONAL PORTRAIT COLLECTION

    September 11th, 2026

    Amanda Dunsmore – We are neurodiverse but not every human being is Neurodivergent © Amanda Dunsmore  Photo, National Gallery of Ireland

    The National Gallery of Ireland has unveiled a new portrait of Adam Harris, Founder of AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity. The portrait is by Amanda Dunsmore, winner of the AIB Portrait Prize in 2024. We are neurodiverse, but not every human being is Neurodivergent is a mixed media work and is now a permanent part of the National Portrait Collection. It is on display in Room 23 for all visitors to see. Amanda Dunsmore was born in England, and has lived and worked in Ireland and Northern Ireland for over 30 years. She currently lives in Co. Clare and is a Lecturer in Fine Art at Limerick School of Art & Design, TUS. 

    In November 2026 Adam Harris will start his new role as ceo of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. He founded AsIAm based on his own experiences growing up as an autistic person in Ireland. In 2020 he was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and serves as an executive council member for Autism Europe. He has sat on, and advised many government consultative and policy committees on disability rights and inclusion, which have helped shape national policies for a more inclusive society.

    20th and 21st century art at Lot 100 auction

    September 9th, 2026

    Richard Smith (1931-2016) – Times Square Remembered III

    This lithograph with collage by Richard Smith, who represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1970, is from the current online sale of 20th and 21st century art by Lismore based Lot 100. From an edition of 42 it is estiamted at €500-€700. The auction, with 106 lots in total, runs until September 15.

    SPECTACULAR VALUE ON OFFER AT MULLEN’S

    September 8th, 2026

     19TH CENTURY DINING ROOM SUITE 

    Even if there is not much interest nowadays in fine dining at home this 19th century dining suite at Mullen’s evening timed online interiors and modern art auction at Laurel Park in Bray on September 13 must represent spectacular value. With 12 Chippendale style dining chairs including two elbow chairs and a rectangular dining table with seven loose leaves the estimate for lot 602 is just €1,000-€1,500. There is a similar estimate on an Irish Georgian longcase clock. The catalogue, with 858 lots, is online.

    WHITE GOLD DIAMOND BANGLE AT ADAMS BLACKROCK

    September 7th, 2026

    18CT WHITE GOLD DIAMOND BANGLE. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    This diamond and gold bangle is lot 10 at a sale of jewellery and watches by Adams Blackrock which runs until September 9. It is composed of a row of channel set round brilliant cut diamonds with an approximate weight of 2.20 carats. The estimate is €3,000-€4,000. There are 704 lots on offer in this timed online sale, running concurrently with auctions of antiques and furniture and Irish paintings. The starting time for all three sales is 7 pm.

    MAQUETTE FOR WELL KNOWN OUTDOOR CORK CITY SCULPTURE

    September 6th, 2026

    This maquette for Kingfisher was created by John Burke (1946-2006) in preparation for his large outdoor sculpture at the Wilton Roundabout in Cork city.  Commissioned by Clayton Love and Seamus Gallagher to commemorate the Cork 800 festival the Wilton sculpture is 25 feet in height and weighs eight tons.  Fabricated using plates of steel welded together the sculpture was installed in December 1984.  The smaller bright blue painted maquette is a delightful sculpture in its own right. From the collection of Frances Lynch it is 117 cm high,  127 cm wide and  57.5 cm deep.  John Burke generally painted his sculptures in bright colours using, for example,  Red Cardinal for the monumental Bank of Ireland piece (now the Department of Health) on Baggot St. in Dublin.  Estimated at €30,000-€50,000 the maquette is the leading lot at Sheppards sale of important Irish art on September 15.

    ENTIRE CONTENTS OF TEMPLETUOHY ANTIQUES AT AUCTION

    September 5th, 2026

     A continental walnut and veneered cylinder desk UPDATE: THIS MADE 280 AT HAMMER

    If the idea of a real bargain in antique furniture floats your boat then a sale by Sean Eacrett on September 7 should be of interest. The entire contents of Templetuohy Antiques in Co. Tipperary will come under the hammer.  The auction of 893 lots offers 542 furniture pieces headed by a large pitch pine and oak kitchen table,  a Regency rosewood brass inlaid foldover card table and a William IV mahogany console table, all estimated at €800-€1,200.

    These are estimates only.  At many auctions lots fail to reach the low estimate and sell anyway.  Demand for antique furniture is not strong and there are bargains to be found in an appetising selection that includes everything from a 19th century circular rent table with blind tooled green leather top, a pair of wingback chairs with deep button backs and a continental two door vitrine with painted panel doors.

    A continental walnut and veneered cylinder writing desk with ivorine panels on inlaid cabriole supports and a Regency Irish supper table with hairy paw supports are each estimated at just €300-€500.  A 19th century two door elm armoire (€150-€250), a Regency sofa table (€150-€250), a 19th century ebonised single door side cabinet (€100-€200) and an antique oak dresser (€80-€120) give a good idea of the value to be found.

    The selection includes mirrors, rugs, torcheres, various chairs, work tables, desks, blanket boxes, trunks, teapoys and even some cast iron Guinness weather vanes at €60-€100.  The auction is on view in Templetuohy today and tomorrow  and the live and online sale will take place in Ballybrittas, Co. Laois from 10 am next Monday.

    Regency rosewood and brass inlaid card table. UPDATE: THIS MADE 600 AT HAMMER

    FELIM EGAN AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL ONLINE SALE

    September 5th, 2026

    Untitled (1998) by Felim Egan (1952-2020) at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish art online auction. UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,000 AT HAMMER

    Art by Donald Teskey, Basil Blackshaw, Sean Scully, Liam O’Neill, Barrie Cooke, Cecil Maguire, John Behan, Felim Egan and Markey Robinson leads Morgan O’Driscoll’s current Irish art online auction. The sale, with 232 lots in total, draws to a close on Monday evening, September 7, and the catalogue is online.

    GALLOP TO LIMERICK RACECOURSE FOR RICH PICKINGS

    September 5th, 2026

    A selection of gold jewellery at Eddie Moylan’s stand

    Gallop over to Limerick racecourse for all the fun of the fair this weekend.  The National antiques art and vintage fair takes place today and tomorrow with a selection that includes jewellery, Irish art, vintage fashion, rugs, glass, collectibles, porcelain, glass, brass, foundry items and collectibles like two folk art Rye Pottery cats by Joan de Bethel.

    All antique furniture stock at Greene’s antiques of Drogheda is fully restored. Eddie Moylan will bring a collection of gold chains and bracelets and there will be animal paintings by Paul James at the Purple Onion Gallery. Everything from old lanterns to cast iron garden planters is available at Foundry Antiques of Navan while an old cut diamond solitaire and a vintage peridot cluster ring at Courtville antiques are sure to attract attention.  This large gathering of dealers and traders from right around Ireland is not to be missed.

    Courtville Antiques will show this peridot cluster ring