A summer art auction in Skibbereen and one at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel near Recess are aimed at holidaymakers
THE seasonal influx of affluent holidaymakers and second homeowners to West Cork and Connemara has prompted two enterprising fine art auctioneers to arrange summer art auctions.
First up, tomorrow in west Cork is fine art auctioneer Morgan O’Driscoll with a late afternoon auction featuring over 100 pieces by artists living and working in the area. Artists represented in the sale include John Cunningham, Julia Penny, Martin Stone, Sheila Hooks, John Kingerlee, Gerry Tudhope, Ian Humphreys, John Simpson, John Desmond, Percy Hall and Monica Boyle.
Many of the paintings feature local landscapes which are always popular with visitors and there’s also a selection of photographs by John Minihan. This is a ‘no reserves’ sale and many paintings have estimates below €500. Viewing is already underway at the gallery in Ilen Street, Skibbereen where the auction takes tomorrow, July 31st, at 5pm.
Meanwhile in Connemara, the Galway-based Dolan’s Art Auction House will hold its summer art auction at the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel next Wednesday, August 3rd, at 2pm. The location is spectacular.
Ballynahinch Castle was once home to Richard ‘Humanity Dick’ Martin, an Irish MP at Westminster who, in 1824, founded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In the 20th century, the 450-acre estate was acquired by an Indian Prince, the Maharajah of Nawanager, a cricketing star who was allegedly the first head of state to make an official visit to the newly-founded Irish Free State in 1924.
A keen fly-fisher, he fell in love with Ireland and subsequently visited annually until his death in 1932. Today Ballynahinch Castle, located four miles off the main Galway-Clifden Road, near Recess, Connemara, is a four-star hotel.
The sale includes over 200 lots with paintings by William Conor, Markey Robinson, Cecil Maguire, Thelma Mansfield, Mark O’Neill, John Shinnors and other artists alongside a small selection of sculpture and photographs.
A set of six watercolours titled The Lakes and Fisheries of Connemara(€600-€800) by Roy Beddington used to hang in another West of Ireland landmark – the Zetland Hotel – and might appeal to former guests with happy memories. Dolan's art auction is on view throughout the bank holiday weekend from 10am-8pm daily.
