“The Son of Cuchulainn – Nicky Rackard”
Medal: G.A.A. Hurling 1955, an attractive 9ct gold Celtic cross pierced Medal, the obverse with Celtic scroll design and inscribed “Cumann luith cleas Gaedheal,” and “Eire” across the middle and a central harp overlay, the reverse inscribed “Craobh Iomana na hEireann 1955 – Loc gCarman – Nicky Rackard,” hall marked J.M. (John Millar).
A catalogue of wild flowers collected by Lady Adare sold for 4,000 at hammer.
THE 1955 All-Ireland Hurling Championship Medal awarded to Wexford’s Nickey Rackard was the top lot at the Fonsie Mealy rare book and collectibles sale in Dublin today. It made 17,500 at hammer over an estimate of 5,000-7,000 in an auction which realised 250,000 at hammer and where 85 per cent of lots were sold.
The nine carat gold medal is in the design of a Celtic Cross. It is engraved with the name Nickey Rackard, widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. Wexford beat Galway 3-13 to 2-8 in the final.
A large collection of plant samples each pinned within a paper folder collected by Lady Adare and commenced in 1850 sold for 4,000 at hammer. It had been estimated at 800-1,200.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for June 28 and June 21, 2014).