A PRESENTATION CUP which was issued to people who defended Trinity College during the 1916 Rising – will go up for auction next week.
Armed members of the University Officer Training Corps defended the college shortly after firing began on Monday April 24 1916.
They were ordered to watched from the roof and shoot at any armed men not wearing uniforms who were presumed to be rebels.
After the Rising the University board decided to thank those who assisted in its defence and each member was presented with a souvenir silver cup.
‘The Defence of Trinity College 1916 Silver Presentation Cup’ is part of The Marquess of Ripon Collection.
The cup up for auction was awarded to Captain Cecil Robinson, a direct descendent of the last Marquess of Ripon. A suit worn by him in the presence of the Queen is also included in the sale as well as family jewellery.
Irish Sweepstake
The ‘McGrath Collection’ will see almost 200 lots from the personal estate of the late Mr and Mrs Joseph McGrath up for auction.
Joseph McGrath Senior (1887-1966) was a founder of the Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake, which ran from 1930 to 1987 and raised the equivalent of €170 million for the Irish health service, creating a network of over 400 hospitals, clinics and medical centres across Ireland.
He was a TD for both Sinn Fein and Cumannna nGaedheal, and travelled with the Irish Treaty delegation to London as one of Michael Collins personal staff. He took the pro-treaty side in the Civil War and was made Director of Intelligence.
In a strongly worded letter, written in red ink, McGrath warned Collins not to take his last trip to Cork where he was shot dead.
The auction will get underway at Mealy’s auctioneers in Kilkenny on October 21, 22 and 23.
For more information on the auction, the brochure can be downloaded at www.mealys.ie.
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