THE IRISH custom of giving gifts to government ministers for performing ceremonial duties has flourished throughout good – and bad – economic times. Two examples will be auctioned by O’Reilly’s of Francis Street in Dublin next Wednesday and might appeal to Paddy the Plasterer types who still have a few bob.
The silver “presentation trowels” were given to Seán MacEntee – a founder of Fianna Fáil and member of Dáil Éireann for more than 40 years. An inscribed silver trowel with an antique fluted-ivory handle, made by Alwright and Marshall, Dublin 1964, was presented to him as tánaiste and minister for health by “the board of The Coombe Hospital on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of The New Coombe Hospital, Dublin 14th May 1964”.
It has an estimate of €1,000-€1,400, as does the second example, also silver but with a wooden handle, made by Cork silversmiths William Egan and inscribed to "Sean MacEntee TD, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the New Erinville Hospital, Cork, 7th June 1961". – MP
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