Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A CLOCK THAT until recently stood in the Dáil is to be sold tomorrow.
The Francis Johnston Speaker Clock, a 200-year-old Grandfather clock, is being sold off along with hundreds of other lots as the heirlooms of the Guinness family of Furness House go under the hammer tomorrow at the Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare.
Apart from its distinguished history, the clock has another odd feature – it plays the air to British national anthem ‘God Save The Queen’.
The clock was initially loaned to the Oireachtas by businessman Frank Kerins in 2007 before being damaged in recent times by the heating system in Leinster House.
The auctioneers’ catalogue describes the piece as “a highly important and monumental mahogany Longcase Clock.
The sale, being run by Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, expects the clock to fetch in the region of €90,000.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Wouldn’t it be God Save the King if it’s 200 years old?
Nope, the title of the song changes with the monarch.
I can never tell “God save the weasel” from “Pop goes the King”!
Probably my least favourite musical tune of all time, but I’d still be fascinated to hear how it sounds coming out of a 200 year-old clock.
I don’t know, anything that plays a sex pistol song is ok in my eyes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
It’s nearly Halloween, plenty of bonfires that could make use of it
It’s a short step from that to destroying pyramids.
Why does the tune of a song used by multiple nations as its anthem offend you so that you would destroy a beautiful antique clock?
Exactly. what a weird sentiment to have. Should we destroy all reminders, all buildings, artwork etc that the British left?
That same sentiment destroyed the records in the Four Courts and many beautiful old streets in Dublin. Time to grow up.
I’m sure the west Brits in the dail sang along to it
What are you, an east/south/North Brit?
What are you Stephen, a simpleton?
There’s a lot of hit air in the Dail and it does a lot of damage generally!
Lord John Bruton would love that clock!
I would re-tune it to play “The Men Behind the Wire”.
It’s time to say goodbye to that piece of history. wish I had the money, but the heat from my range would probably damage it more.
John Bruton will be all over this. I’d say he’s making a spot for it right now.
Articles like this attract the usual inane comments from the neanderthal antediluvian mossback stereotypical ignorant IRA/SF types.
spoken like a true anti Irish gobshyte
People who use phrases like “West Brit” in a desperate attempt to be seen to assert their true Irishness.
how would you know?
How much for the Chariot?
Tap bought a thesaurus over the weekend.
To me, that clock ain’t worth squat!
It played, every time Enda passed it and he wants rid of it?
Enda loves that tune. he is importing a cheaper version for all the peasants to bow down to.
Good for fire-wood that’s all.
Ghastly looking thing,only fit for the skip but having said that it’s what fore lock tuggers mainly from the Antrim bible belt area go ape for.
Might bid a few fiddys on it and then bail,lol.
They don’t have to worry about heating bills in the Dail, that’s why it got damaged.
How can it be God shave the Queen if it is a 200 years old clock?
Would the Brits allow a clock in their parliament building chiming out Amhran na Bhfiann? Not likely!
Is it possibly playing God Save The King and not the t’other?
More like God save mad George…
have your say