The English auction house, Sothebys, is offering for sale a notebook relating to Thomas Kent, the only person associated with the 1916 Rising to be executed outside Dublin.
The book carries an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 sterling, but as of yesterday it had received no bids.
The director of the National Library of Ireland, Mr Brendan O'Donoghue, said they had been informed of the item but due to the high prices suggested would not be interested in buying it. Born in Castlelyons, Co Cork, Thomas Kent was active in the nationalist movement during the early 20th century. On Easter Sunday 1916 he received word that the planned rising had been cancelled and remained with his brothers in the family home, awaiting further instructions. On May 2nd the house was surrounded by the Royal Irish Constabulary and a gun battle ensued before the Kents surrendered.
Thomas Kent was found guilty of shooting a policeman and was executed in Cork a week later. The notebook is inscribed on its cover with the name F.O. Healy and the date, 1916. It appears to have been used by Kent's defence counsel as its contents include particulars of the case against him. According to Mr Peter Beal of Sothebys in London, the item came from a private owner.
