Sales of Irish country house contents

The dispersion of artefacts, through the Sale of Irish country house contents, occurred over a period of hundreds of years starting with major sales after the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later with the financial after effects of the Irish famine leading to the creation of the Encumbered Estates' Court in 1849.

Later surges in sales and destruction of items occurred during the Easter Rising in 1916 and later again with the destruction of Irish country houses during the Irish War of Independence.

Post world war sales and fires resulted in the destruction of further contents while large auction sales from the 1950s through to the mid 1990s resulted in the loss of further contents, particularly during recessionary periods such as the early to mid 1980s.

After the beginning of the Celtic Tiger era (circa 1990 onwards), the sale of contents has been more rigorously catalogued with all but the most exceptionally valuable lots staying in the hands of other home owners within the state or going to national cultural institutions and galleries.

In the early 21st century, both the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland have both had first-refusal and prior notice on important items which have been placed on the market for sale.

List of auctions

YearHouseCountyDateAuction HouseVendorNotes and contents sold1875Santry CourtDublin1875Sir C.C.W. DomvileMost high value contents in a 10 day sale1890Kilcroney House, BrayWicklow29 July 1890Battersby & CompanyBuilt by Humphrey Lloyd and residence of Matthew P D'arcy190463 Fitzwilliam Square NorthDublin23-25 July 1904Battersby & CompanyObjects owned by Sir Robert Foster1910Ely House, Ely Place, DublinDublin8 November 1910Bennett & SonThornley Stoker1911Dunsandle HouseGalwayApril 1911Bennett & SonDaly familyA significant portion of the contents were ultimately transferred to Russborough House by the owner Major Denis Daly.1913Rathfarnham CastleDublin2 April 1913Battersby & CompanyMany lots were acquired by the Jesuits who had recently purchased the property.1914Bishopscourt, StraffanKildare13 July 1914Battersby & CompanyContents of house, land and library of Earl of Clonmell1916Hermitage HouseLimerick20 January 1916William B FittSome of the most valuable contents were transferred to Killakee House.1918Laurentum House, ClashmoreWaterford1918Contents clearance1919CastlefrekeCorkOctober 1919Marsh's1919Killakee HouseDublin8 July 1919Bennett & Son1921Gosford CastleArmagh4-13 April 1921Battersby & CompanyResidence of Earl of Gosford1921Garvagh HouseDerry20 September 1921Battersby & CompanyProperty of Lord Garvagh1921Castletown CoxKilkenny11 October 1921Battersby & CompanyWindham Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-EarlSelected contents1921Tara HallMeathNovember 1921Battersby & CompanyJohn Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara1922Hazelwood House, SligoSligo18 May 1922Battersby & CompanyMuriel and Philip Dudley Perceval1925Lucan ManorDublin29 September 1925Bennett & SonCaptain Richard St John Jefferyes ColthurstEntire contents1925Carton HouseKildare11-13 November 1925Bennett & SonEdward FitzGerald, 7th Duke of LeinsterMajority of contents1929Upperscourt HouseKilkenny1929M. and E. Maher1932Charleville House, EnniskerryWicklow31 October 1932Viscount Monck1935Kilkenny CastleKilkenny18 November 1935Battersby & CompanyMarquess of OrmondeEarl of Ossory1936Shanganagh Castle, ShankillDublin10 August 1936Battersby & Company1937Moore Abbey, MonasterevanKildare15 February 1937Battersby & CompanyCount John McCormackAll contents1939Iveagh HouseDublin28-29 September 1939Battersby & CompanyEarl of Iveagh2,600 lots1939Ashford CastleMayo15 May 1939 (2 weeks)Jackson Stops and McCabeIveagh TrusteesEntire Contents1943Rokeby Hall, DunleerLouth1943North'sMaud Montgomery1944Johnstown CastleWexford1 May 1944Jackson Stops & McCabeThe contents of the castle were sold off at a public auction lasting five days1944Santry CourtDublin1944Sir Compton Meade DomvilleRemaining contents1948Carrickbyrn, FoxrockDublin1948Hamilton and HamiltonEstate of Mrs Lansell Jacob1949Carton HouseKildare1949Allen & TownsendDuke of LeinsterRemainder of Library1950Glenmaroon House, ChapelizodDublin1950James Adam & SonsThe Residence of the late Hon. A.E. Guinness, By Direction of the Lady Oranmore and Browne1950Shelton AbbeyWicklow16 October 1950Allen & Townsend Clarke DelahuntEarl of WicklowContents1951Tervoe, ClarinaLimerick27 September 1951William B FittCaptain John de la Poer MonsellBooks1952Mount Trenchard, FoynesLimerick19 September 1952Good and Ganly William B FittLt Commander CE Hall R.N.R1953Killeen Castle, DunsanyMeath15-20 July 1953Town and Country Estates (Ireland) LtdEarl of Fingall1954Favour RoyalTyrone1954Town and Country Estates (Ireland) LtdMajor MoutrayMilitary collection1957Oak ParkCarlow29 October 1957Hamilton and Hamilton Estates LtdValuable contents1958Cooleen, CastletroyLimerick19 June 1958EV Hewson1958Gloster HouseOffaly28-31 October 1958 Town and Country Estates LimitedMajor ETT LloydAlmost all contents1960Coolbawn Hotel, CastleconnellLimerick1960Louis De CourcyContents1960Bowen's CourtCorkApril 1960W. Marsh & Sons LtdMost contents1960Straffan HouseKildare1960Jackson Stops McCabeThe house later became part of the K Club.1961Graigue, Palmerston ParkDublin28 February 1961James Adam & SonsHenry Mangan (deceased)Library including ancient books1961Bowen's CourtCork1961Marsh'sElizabeth BowenLibrary1962Dromoland CastleClare1962Lord Inchiquin1962Rose HillKilkenny14-18 May 1962McCreery & SonsMichael F Murphy1962Cahir Park HouseTipperary1962Battersby & Company1962TobertynanMeath13-14 February 1962Owen MartinDuke of Stacpole1963Milverton Hall, SkerriesDublin10-11 September 1963Hamilton and Hamilton1963Courtown House, KilcockKildare10 June 1963Hamilton and HamiltonEntire contents1964Kenure HouseDublin21-24 September 1964J.H. North & Co. LtdColonel RH Fenwick PalmerEntire valuable contents1966Castletown HouseKildare1966Jackson-Stops and McCabe18th-20th century furniture and pictures residue1966Kiladoon, CelbridgeKildare31 October 1966SothebysColonel HTW Clements and formed by the late HJB ClementsLibrary and manuscripts1968Clonmannon, Ashford, County WicklowWicklow21 May 1968James Adam & SonsExecutors of Sir Chester Beatty1968Rockfield, Kells, County MeathMeath6-7 March 1968Keane Mahony Smith W & G ArmstrongEntire contents1969Doneraile CourtCorkDecember 1969Hamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LimitedLord Doneraile (Executor)Entire Library1970Florence CourtFermanagh10 November 1970John Ross & CompanyEarl of EnniskillenSurplus antiques and furnishings1972DerkLimerick10 April 1972Stokes & QuirkeEntire contents1976Moyglare House, MaynoothKildare13-14 December 1976Sotheby Keany Mahoney SMithDr and Mrs WG FeganContens1976Clonbrock HouseGalway1 November 1976Christie, Manson & Woods Lisney & SonMr Luke Dillon Mahon1976Newtown Park House, BlackrockDublin1976Hamilton & Hamilton Christies Manson & Woods LtdMr. and Mrs. E. A. McGuire1976Malahide CastleDublin10-12 May 1976Keane Mahony Smith Christies Manson & Woods LtdRose Maud TalbotEntire contents1977Donacomper, CelbridgeKildare25-26 July 1977Hamilton & Hamilton Christies Manson & Woods LtdMr and Mrs Bruce Breedin1977Carton HouseKildare1977Lord Brockett David Nall Cain1977White Lodge, BallycastleAntrim20 September 1977Osborne, King and Megran1978Slane CastleMeath20 November 1978Sothebys1978Charleville House, EnniskerryWicklow1978Hamilton & Hamilton Christies Manson & Woods LtdDonald Davies1979Clonmannon, Ashford, County WicklowWicklow25 October 1979Hamilton & Hamilton1979Bettyglen, RahenyDublin3-4 August 1979Hamilton & Hamilton Christies Manson & Woods LtdW.H. Ahern. It was formerly one of the homes of the Jameson family.1980Coollattin House, ShillelaghWicklow1980Hamilton & Hamilton Christies Manson & Woods LtdMichael Brendan Cadogan1980Milverton Hall, SkerriesDublin1980Woods family1981Charleville CastleOffaly1981Allen & Townsend Philips1981Birr CastleOffaly7-8 October 1981ChristiesThe Trustees of the Oxmantown Settlement TrustSelected contents.1981Slane CastleMeath19811982Glyde Court, TallanstownLouth15-16 September 1982Nicholas NicholsonColonel and Mrs A C May1982Adare ManorLimerick9-10 June 1982Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd Hamilton & Hamilton (Estates) LtdThady Wyndham-Quin, 7th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-EarlWorks by artists including Van Dyck, Rubens, Teniers and Pugin.1983Ballinamona ParkWaterford1983George Mealy & SonsEntire clearance1983Coollattin HouseWicklow28 June 1983Hamilton & Hamilton (Estates) Ltd1983Luttrellstown CastleDublin1983Christie Manson & WoodsAileen Plunket1,558 lots (Entire contents)1984Powerscourt EstateWicklow24-25 September 1984Christie Manson & Woods1984Cabinteely House, CabinteelyDublin5-6 November 1984Chisties613 lots1984Oldbridge House, DroghedaMeath19 June 1984GunneMrs DH CoddingtonAll contents1985Alton Grange, FoxrockDublin16 September 1985Christies683 lots1986Glenard, Taylors HillGalway23 February 1986RooneyMiss E Boland executors1986Carrickmines HouseDublin10 February 1986Christies and Edmiston's Ltd Hamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LtdDan McInerney1986Mount Juliet Golf & Spa HotelKilkenny1986SothebysMajor V McAlmont1986Castle HacketGalway2-4 July 1986Christies and Edmiston's Ltd Hamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LtdPercy Paley (Estate)198719 North Great George's StreetDublin2-3 November 1987Christies and Edmiston's Ltd Hamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LtdThe Property of Harold Clarke, Iain MacLachlan, Mrs. Eve Kaye and two other sources1987Mount Juliet Golf & Spa HotelKilkenny1987ChristiesMcAlmont family.649 lots1988Castlegar, BallinasloeGalway24-25 May 1988Christies Hamilton Osborne KingJohn Horan1988Somerton, CastleknockDublin24-25 May 1988Christies Hamilton Osborne KingTK Laidlaw1988TineranaClare10-11 October 1988Hamilton Osborne KingMr and Mrs Peter Gleeson and Mr and Mrs Patrick Gleeson1988Killora LodgeCork12 September 1988Alain Chawner 1988Mountainstown House, NavanMeath28-29 September 1988Christies Hamilton Osborne KingJohn Pollock1,126 lots1990Straffan HouseKildare28 February 1990Christies Scotland Hamilton Osborne KingThe Kildare Hotel and Country Club515 lots1990Dromin House, ArdeeLouth25 September 1990Hamilton Osborne King1991Castletown CoxKilkenny7-8 October 1991Christies Hamilton Osborne KingGeorge Magan1992Humewood CastleWicklow15-16 July 1992EA Coonan Hamilton Osborne King1992Stackallan HouseMeath20 October 1992Christies Hamilton Osborne KingEM Burke591 lots1992Woodstock HouseWicklow1992Hamilton Osborne KingLibrary1993LyrathKilkenny15 September 1993Christies Hamilton Osborne KingCaptain and Mrs A C Tupper606 lots1995Farney Castle, ThurlesTipperary4 July 1995GunneEntire contents1995Glencullen House, KiltiernanDublin5 July 1995AdamsEntire valuable contents1995GortdrishaghGalway9 July 1995AdamsMrs M R Glynn1996Powerstown House, CloneeMeathJuly 1996Hamilton Osborne King1997St Clerans, CraughwellGalway5 June 1997GunneJohn Huston1998Sandbrook House, BalonCarlow20 October 1998Mealy'sMr and Mrs Nigel Trevithick1998Raford HouseGalway20 October 1998Mealy'sLord and Lady Hemphill1999Garretstown HouseMeath1999Mealy'sPrince and Princess Guirey1999Rockfield, Kells, County MeathMeath1999Hamilton Osborne KingA Cameron2000Mount FalconMayo26 June 2000Hamilton Osborne KingAldridge FamilyEntire contents2000Mount John House, NewtownmountkennedyWicklow15 November 2000AdamsJoan Kennedy-Kisch2002Farnham HouseCavan27 January 2002Hamilton Osborne KingOriginally the home of Baron Farnham.2003Mourne ParkDown14-15 April 2003Hamilton Osborne KingPhilip Anley and Bonnie Horsman1,000+ lots2003Lissadell HouseSligo25 November 2003Christies