15 September 2009 - Irish Literary & Sporting Memorabilia Sale
#0196
CASTLECOMER,CO.KILKENNY, EIRE.
15 September 2009 - Irish Literary & Sporting Memorabilia Sale
#0196
All content Copyright © Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
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Lot 973/0196
Rare Complete Set of G.A.A. Stars
G.A.A. Sweet Cigarettes – A good complete set of 48, Sweet Cigarette Cards, “Gaelic Sport Stars,” with representatives from all disciplines of the G.A.A. and each county. As a set, w.a.f. (1)More details › -
Lot 974/0196
A Memento of the All-Ireland in New York 1947
G.A.A., An attractive and unusual memento for the famous All-Ireland Final at the Polo-Grounds in New York 1947, between Cavan & Kerry. A replica Spit-Fire airplane customised into a Cigarette Lighter. Inscribed on both wings, “Fintan Brennan, G.A.A. Final, New York City 1947,” a desirable item to commemorate this momentous occasion in GAA History. Fine. Scarce. (1)
* Cavan beat Kerry in the Final 2-11 to 2-7, and claimed their 3rd title in the Competition.
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Lot 975/0196
Presentation Glass, G.A.A., 2000, a Vase (possible Duiske) with carved moulded rim, engraved with the G.A.A. logo and inscribed Coiste Contae Cill Channigh Millennium Presentation, Kilkenny All-Ireland Senior Medal Winners, 6th December 2000, attractive item, as glass, w.a.f. Good. (1)
* Recipient Unknown.More details › -
Lot 976/0196
Signed by Tyrone All-Ireland Winners
Jersey: G.A.A., Co. Tyrone, a very good replica Team Jersey for County Tyrone Football, the front signed in black marker by the majority of the squad including Pascal Mc Donnell, Brian Meenan, Ciaran Gormley, Mickey Harte, & over 30 others, a very desirable collectable for Tyrone G.A.A. Fans. Good. (1)
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Lot 977/0196
Poignant Memento of a Fateful Day
Sunday November 21st, 1920
G.A.A. – Grand Challenge Match (Football). Tipperary v. Dublin at Croke Park, on Sunday, November 21, 1920. An original printed ticket for this match. Printed on pink card with Serial No. & Admission 1/-. Exceptionally fine example. Excessively Rare, together with a reproduction Memorial Card of the victims.
The period 1918 – 1920 was a turbulent and dangerous period in Irish History. Martial Law was enforced in many areas, and the activities of the G.A.A. and other Sporting Organisations were severely curtailed. The behaviour of the British Forces in Ireland forced many young men to join the Irish Volunteers, and other Republican Organizations despite having no background in the movement. Especially in Tipperary many young men of the time, and particularly those involved in Gaelic Games joined in the struggle for Irish Independence. With such exciting events as the Rescue of Sean Hogan at Knocklong Railway Station in May 1919, several of the country’s leading Footballers became involved in the War of Independence. By early March 1920 the number of Gaelic Games played almost came to a standstill. This trend continued into the early summer when normally the volume of activity should have been increasing. In October there came a sudden and brief revival of Inter-County Fixtures. However, the following month was to have a tragic outcome. In early October, approximately five thousand spectators who had so far that year had little exciting fare were entertained by a rousing Challenge Football Match in Croke Park, between Dublin and Kildare, which Dublin won. Soon afterwards, the Tipperary County Board issued a challenge to Dublin. A match was arranged for 2.45 p.m. on Sunday November 21st, again at Croke Park. The game was well organised, and advertised as The G.A.A. Challenge Match. It was intended that the money raised from the match would help the Association for the Dependents of the I.R.A. who had been killed or imprisoned.
The events which occurred at that game, now known as “Bloody Sunday,” followed the early morning assassination of eleven British Intelligence Agents, “The Cairo Gang,” in an operation organized by Michael Collins. When the British retaliated later that day, it was to Croke Park that the Military and Auxiliary Forces came, recognizing that the Stadium was the centre and symbol of Irish Nationalism and Nationalistic Aspirations. “Then suddenly and without any warning, Croke Park was the scene of a holocaustÂ…Â…” They fired into the crowd indiscriminately, killing twelve people and wounding about sixty, “On the field Michael Hogan, one of the Tipperary backs (and one of only two Irish Volunteer Officers on the Tipperary Team) lay mortally wounded, while within seconds a dozen spectators were dead or dying, many more seriously wounded.” This was Bloody Sunday.
Nothing more strikingly illustrates the close connections between the G.A.A. and the Republican Movement between 1916 and 1922, than “Bloody Sunday.” (1)
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Lot 978/0196
Bloody Sunday First Anniversary Tournament
Excessively Rare Gold Medal
G.A.A. Football: A magnificent and excessively rare 9ct gold circular medal, the obverse finely engraved with an Irish sportsman, togged out and standing in front of a goalpost ‘holding a rifle in his hands, two hurley sticks, a sliotar and a football lying in foreground, and decorated with shamrocks overhead, the reverse inscribed “Presented by The Irish Natl. Assurance Co., 1921 Anniversary T’ment. Won by Tipp. J. Kickham.” The loop suspension flanked either side with engraved shamrock. In immaculate condition. (1)
* This medal was awarded to Jack Kickham (C.J. Kickhams Club of Mullinahone) who played full forward for Tipperary on that faithful day.
Jack was born at Ballydavid, Mullinahone into a farming family and community where he remained up to his death. He was a member of the Mullinahone Team that brought the first ever Senior County Football Title to the Village in 1912. He progressed to become a full member of the Tipperary County Team along with his club mate Ned Egan. They were narrowly defeated by Kerry in the Munster semi-final of 1919, a match that took place on May 25th, less than a fortnight after the Knocklong Rescue of Sean Hogan by Sean Treacy, Dan Breen and others, in which two policemen were killed. After this incident, South Tipperary became an armed camp and all G.A.A. and other Sporting Activities ceased.
Jack was a quiet man and reputed to be one who avoided the limelight at all costs, but one who would have surely won more honours from his sporting prowess except for the turbulent times that existed when he was in his prime. Nevertheless, he will forever be remembered with pride in his native village.
An extremely rare memento of this extraordinary day in G.A.A. History.
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Lot 979/0196
“Massacre by The Black & Tans”
Gleeson (James) Bloody Sunday, This Was the Day on Which Irish Patriots Practically Wiped out British Secret Agents in Dublin, 8vo,Surrey (Four Square Book) 1963, FIRST EDN., illus., orig. ptd. pictorial wrappers. Good. Scarce.
* An extremely indepth analysis of the events that led to that fateful day, now known as “Bloody Sunday”. (1)
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Lot 980/0196
Earliest Irish Rugby
Dinner Menu Extant
Rugby: Scottish Football Union. An extremely rare Rugby Menu Card, ” ‘Cead Mille fhailte,’ Scottish Rugby Union. Complimentary Dinner to the Irish International Football Team, Saturday 10th Mary 1888 at 6.30p.m. Waterloo Hotel, Edinburgh.” A single A4 card folded, with title & pictorial decoration on front cover, the menu and toast list on inside spread, and with both teams & officials listed on back cover. Probably unique. (1)
* This match was postponed until March 10th because of frost, and Ireland lost 1 goal to nil. On the 1st December that year Ireland played New Zealand, the first team from Southern Hemisphere to play in Ireland.
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Lot 981/0196
Rugby: North of Ireland – 1935: An early Programme for Sale Football Club v. North of Ireland at Brooklands, Dec. 7th, 1935, adverts, orig. ptd. wrappers, some wear, but scarce. (1)
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Lot 982/0196
Ireland v. England 1937
Rugby: R.F.U. – Official Programme, England v. Ireland, Saturday 13th February 1937, 8vo, L. 1937, 2pps., ptd. wrappers, some wear. Good. Scarce. (1)
* Ireland were narrowly defeated by the English on a score line of 9 points to 8.
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Lot 983/0196
Ireland’s Last Full Pre-War International
Rugby: I.R.F.U., 1939, Official Programme, International Match, Ireland v. Wales, Saturday 11th March 1939 at Ravenhill, 8vo, Belfast 1939, 2pps., adverts, repair marks. Scarce. (1)
* Ireland lost this game to the Welsh on a score line of 7-0. The next full International would not take place till 1946, with a game against the French.
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Lot 984/0196
Rugby: Co. Carlow – Fixture Cards, Co. Carlow Rugby Football Club, Season 1939-40 Card and Season 1960 – 61, both 12mo, ptd. wrappers. Good. Scarce. (2)
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Lot 985/0196
Rugby: I.R.F.U., Leinster Branch 1941, Programme, Charity Match in Aid of St. Vincent de Paul, Combined Universities v. Rest of Ireland, Lansdowne Road, Saturday 25th January 1941, 2pps., adverts, repair marks. Good. Scarce. (1)
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Lot 986/0196
Old Belvedere R.F.C. & New Zealand Services
Rugby: Old Belvedere R.F.C., a complimentary Dinner in Honour of the New Zealand Services, Clery’s Restaurant, Dublin, Saturday 22nd December 1945, 8vo, D. 1945, 2pps., ptd. card, signed in m/ss by K. Mullen and other representatives and players at Old Belvedere R.F.C. A very desirable piece of Dublin Rugby Memorabilia. Good. (1)
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Lot 987/0196
Old Belvedere Cup Winning Teams
“Karl Mullen Rugby School Days”
Rugby: Belvedere College & Old Belvedere R.F.C., a Dinner Menu Card. “In Honour of the Old Belvedere Rugby Football Club & The Cup Winning Teams, given by the Rector and Community, and The Union of Belvedere College at Clery’s Restaurant, 2nd May 1945,” 8vo, D. 1945, 2pps., signed on centre page by some present at event, together with a loose page depicting various Belvedere players surrounding the Cup signed by four of them.
* A nice memento of Karl Mullen’s Rugby Days at Belvedere.
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Lot 988/0196
Irish Rugby Trip to Scotland
Rugby: I.R.F.U., 1946, Itinerary, Scottish XV versus An Irish XV at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Saturday 23rd February, 1946, sm. 8vo, D. 1946, 2pps., ptd. card. Good. Rare. (1)
* Ireland won their third post-war match against the Scots 3-0, in a very tough game that saw only 1 try.More details › -
Lot 989/0196
First Post-War “Un-Capped” International
Rugby: I.R.F.U., 1946, Official Programme. An Irish XV versus a French XV at Lansdowne Road, Saturday 26th January 1946, 8vo D. 1946, 10pps., illus., & adverts. loose, ptd. wrappers. Fine Scarce. (1)
* Following the War, there were some International Games, but these were not recognized for full International Caps.
* The Irish lost to the French 4 points to 3. Jean Prat of France gave his first exhibition on the International stage, “Showing brilliant application and execution of line-out technique.”
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Lot 990/0196
[The Third Wallaby Visit to Ireland]
Irish Rugby: Munster RFU: – Munster v. Australia, Mardyke, Tuesday 9th December 1947, 8vo Cork (Hickey & Byrne) 1947, 14pps., illus., & adverts through-out, slight staining. Good. Scarce. (1)
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Lot 991/0196
Rugby: Scottish R.F. U. – v. Ireland, 22.2.1947, at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 8vo Edin. 1947, illus., & adverts, orig. ptd. wrappers (loose). Good, scarce. (1)
* The Irish beat the Scots on a score-line of 3-0, captained by Monteith, and including other Irish greats like Kyle Mullen etc..
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Lot 992/0196
Old Belvedere’s French Tour
Rugby: Racing Club de France, Menu Card, “Souvenir du Voyage en France, du Old Belvedere R.F.C., Dublin (Matches at Paris, Cognac, Claremont, Paris) 14-28 October 1947,” sm. 4to Paris 1947, 2pps., ptd. card. Good. Scarce. (1)More details ›