Original door knocker from Galway prison up for auction

The original door knocker from Galway Gaol is up for grabs – along with a series of documents for migratory workers from the west that paint a poignant picture of Ireland’s economic realities just after the Second World War.

These are among the items that will go under the hammer at an auction of rare books, literature, manuscripts and collectables in Dublin at the end of the month.

Up for grabs: the original knocker from the door of the old Galway Gaol.

Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers will conduct an auction comprising over 800 lots on Tuesday, May 30, at the Tara Towers Hotel.

But among the items of specific interest to collectors of memorabilia from the west will be the heavy cast iron door knocker from the old Galway Gaol.

Modelled as a hand grabbing a wreath with lions mounted on a mahogany frame, by tradition it was reputed to have been removed as a memento from Galway Goal whilst being released from detention by Achill man Brian Corrigan of Mayo’s Flying Column. The knocker has a reserve of €300/€400.

Also up for auction is a series of 27 1940s travel permits for migrants from Galway and Mayo, travelling to work in Britain – many with the British Sugar Corporation, where work would have involved the harsh labour of pulling beet by hand.

They give details given of birth and residence, with passport-style photos attached.

Most of the workers were young men, born in the 1920s, but two – born in 1896 and 1897 – were in their early fifties.

For auction: 1940s travel permits for migrants from Galway and Mayo.

They serve as a poignant reminder of hard times in the West of Ireland, when emigration was the lot of many – and they come with a reserve of €350/€450.

On a broader scale the auction features first editions by Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Kavanagh, Yeats and others, formed from two private Irish Collections.

A unique item in the literary section is an original signed manuscript by James Joyce, from the opening sequence of Finnegan’s Wake – with an estimated reserve of €8,000 to €10,000.

Flann O’Brien’s most famous work ‘At Swim Two Birds’ is being offered for sale at an estimated €1,750 to €2,500. And Patrick Kavanagh’s first novel ‘The Green Fool’ is for sale with an estimate of €1,000 to €1,500.

More modern collectors might be drawn to a number of Harry Potter editions, some of which are signed by the cast and author (€600 to €800).

Extremely rare G.A.A. and other sporting memorabilia are included in the sale – including a medal from Laois’ first and only All-Ireland Hurling win from 1915 comes with a pre-sale of €7,000 to €10,000.

Other G.A.A memorabilia include official match programmes from 1930’s to 1950’s, a match ticket from Bloody Sunday (€600 to €700); the rugby ball from 1948 grand slam winning match between Ireland and Wales (€700 to €900) – and the programme from the day Munster conquered the All-Blacks in Thomond Park 1978, which could be yours for between €350 and €450.

Viewing of sale items take place at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneer’s in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, on Wednesday, May 24, and at the Tara Towers Hotel in Dublin on Sunday and Monday, May 28 and 29, with the auction at 10am on Tuesday 30th. See the website for more.