Under the hammer, the original words and music to Ireland's national anthem.
History going for a song?
Under the hammer, the original words and music to Ireland's national anthem.
Tuesday February 14th 2006
Fears national anthem could be sold abroad
Anne-Marie
Walsh
THE only original copy of the national anthem may be set to leave the country if the State does not put in a bid at a special Easter week auction.
Despite the Government's renewed interest in the 1916 Rising as its 90th anniversary approaches, it has not indicated if it plans to buy what is considered one of the most significant documents in Irish history.
The auctioneers claim the State has already allowed the 'Soldier's Song' (Amhran na bhFiann) - which is expected to fetch between €800,000 and €1.2m - to slip through its fingers at least twice in the past.
Document
They said it has been offered to the Government on a number of occasions, including once last year, but it did not take up the offer.
A Government spokesperson said it had previously made an offer for a national anthem document, but its bid was rejected. He also said it was not ruling out bidding for the document this time round.
"If it is the same document, an offer was made on one occasion in the past, but it was rejected," he said.
"We are not ruling out an offer until the experts check out the provenance and authenticity of the document," he said.
Auctioneers said the loss of the anthem, handwritten by Peadar Kearney in 1907, would be catastrophic.
It is being auctioned by James Adam & Sons and Mealy's auctioneers in a sale that includes a collection of memorabilia from Irish history, including Irish rebel Michael Collins's typewriter.
Other rare items include poignant final letters from key figures in the Easter Rising before their execution.
Also for auction is a letter written by 1916 rebel Thomas Clarke to his wife Kathleen, and a letter from fellow rebel Sean McDermott also on the eve of his execution, to the Mayor of Limerick
"The national anthem was offered to the State on different occasions within the last couple of years, including at one stage last year," said a spokesperson for auctioneers Adam's and Mealy's, who are holding the special 'Independence Sale' on April 12.
"Adam's and Mealy's cannot divulge the price the anthem was offered to the State for, but can confirm it was in the realm of its current auction estimate - €800,000 to €1.2m."
"This document is the original anthem. There are and never have been any other original copies, so it's entirely unique and obviously the only surviving."
It the Government does not make a bid for the anthem, it could face further criticism as the final meeting place of the rebels on Moore Street faces an uncertain future due to development plans.
Auction houses James Adam and Sons and Mealy's Auctioneers are hosting the sale to coincide with the Rising's 90th anniversary.
Commenting on the significance of the sale, Stuart Cole, Director of James Adam and Sons said: "Many of the items consigned for auction are one-offs.
"Previously unseen and entirely irreplaceable, they derive from important Irish families directly involved in the Easter Rising and the battle for Irish independence."
Auctioneer Fonsie Mealy, of Mealy's, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, said he was worried that the national anthem could be sold to a collector outside Ireland.
Collector
"Of supreme national importance, it will naturally be of interest to many Irish collectors and we would hope to see it stay in the country," he said.
"However, having already been offered to the State on different occasions, we are concerned that it could leave Ireland because of huge international interest."
The Soldier's Song was formally adopted as Ireland's national anthem in 1926.
A deeply moving letter from Thomas Clarke reads: "I am in better health and more satisfied then for many a day.
"All will be well eventually, but this is goodbye and now you are ever before me.
"God bless you and the boys, let them be proud to follow the same path.
"Sean is with me and McG, all heroes.
"I am full of pride. My love, yours, Tom."
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