Latest news with #VictorMeeAuctions
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point
When we think about creating beautiful outdoor spaces, our minds often jump to colour schemes, planting plans, or hard landscaping. But one of the most powerful tools in a garden designer's toolbox is something quite simple: the focal point. A garden, like a good painting, benefits enormously from a strong composition. And every good composition needs something to draw the eye, a centrepiece that invites you in and gives meaning to the space around it. It could be a tree, a water feature, or a well-placed bench. But increasingly, I'm drawn to the character and charm of sculpture, especially when it speaks to our landscape, our heritage, and our imagination. Over the years, I have found that one of the most exciting sources for this kind of focal point is local auction houses. Sourcing garden focal points from auction houses ensures your piece of statuary is unique, not forgetting often highly collectable, sustainable and durable within your garden space. One particular auction that comes to mind is the annual Summer Garden Sale, hosted by Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions. Victor Mee's yearly garden auction has become something of a fixture on the calendar for designers, collectors, and garden lovers alike. And for good reason, as the catalogue is always full of personality, ranging from grand classical pieces to the delightfully unexpected smaller statues and useful garden items. This year, there's a particularly enchanting theme running through the sculptural line-up: traditional Irish woodland and farm animals. We're talking everything from a proud parade of sheep and a pair of pigs mid-snuffle to a flurry of hares in full motion. There are geese, life-sized horses, and even a dramatic sculpture of a horse and jockey clearing a fence, all of which are full of energy and storytelling potential. These garden focal points do more than simply decorate a space. They become part of the garden's soul. Animal sculptures, in particular, have a unique ability to connect us with the land. They reflect the rhythms of Irish life, from the fields to the farms, and they carry with them a sense of nostalgia and folklore. A bronze hare mid-leap can remind us of the flash of movement through a dewy meadow. A grouping of cast-iron sheep brings a sense of calm and familiarity, especially in more urban settings. And a pair of pigs can make even the most formal garden feel grounded and playful. These kinds of focal points do something quite magical in a garden. They catch the eye, spark curiosity, and bring humour and heart into the space. They give you a second to pause, and for me, that's what a great garden is all about. It's not just about plants and paving, which of course are so important, but it's also about creating a place that draws you in and asks you to look again. The beauty of a piece from auction houses like Victor Mee's Garden Sale is in its individuality. Every item is chosen with care, and in Victor Mee's case, many items were held back throughout the year to make this sale a true event. Whether it's a traditional stone urn, a whimsical bronze fox, or a reclaimed wrought-iron bench, each item brings a distinct voice to the garden. And when you build your design around a piece with this kind of presence, the rest of the garden naturally falls into rhythm. It's a trend I'm seeing more and more — garden owners wanting not just style, but story. They want their outdoor spaces to reflect who they are and where they come from. Of course, placing a sculpture well is just as important as choosing the right one. Think about framing it with planting, whether that be tall grasses for movement, wildflowers for contrast, or clipped hedging for formality. Let it surprise people around a corner or make it the centrepiece of your view from the kitchen window. A garden focal point doesn't need to be big to be bold, it's about presence, not size. It should invite interaction, whether that's contemplation, a smile, or even a selfie! The Victor Mee Summer Garden Sale doesn't just offer antiques and oddities; it offers the chance to bring a piece of the story into your space. So this summer, if you're thinking of refreshing your garden or starting from scratch, begin with the focal point. Let it be something that brings joy, sparks a memory, or simply makes you stop and smile. Because that, to me, is what gardening is all about. Victor Mee Auctions' annual Summer Garden Sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10 and 11, live and online from the Co Cavan family-run auction house. Public viewing will take place on location at Victor Mee Auctions, Cavan auction rooms on June 7 and 8 from 12pm-5pm and on June 9 from 10am-5pm. Read More Six ways to use mirrors in your garden or outdoor space
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
In the salerooms: Irish carnival memorabilia, a vintage French diamond cocktail ring and more
A sale of Carnivals & Collectibles, which takes place at Victor Mee Auctions on April 29 and 30, includes a consignment of Irish carnival memorabilia from the fairgrounds at Warrenpoint, Co Down and Buncrana, Co Donegal: a carousel horse (Lot 549: est. €600 to €1,200); a 1970s tinplate fairground motorcycle in original condition (Lot 547: est. €200 to €400) with stickers on the windshield; and several batch lots of vintage marionettes (each lot est. €60 to €80). Advertising memorabilia in the sale includes a rare Irish Jacob's Biscuits advertising figure from the 1930s (Lot 516: est. €600 to €1,200); a Crow Bar Tobacco enamel advertising sign (Lot 337: est. €500 to €800) – 'The Sensible Man knows what is best and insist upon it' – and a 1950s P&T postman's bicycle with wicker baskets (Lot 588: est. €200 to €400). See Hegarty Antiques The Kingsland Collection sale at Hegarty Antiques in Bandon, Co Cork, takes place live online on April 30 from 11am. Highlights include an Irish Celtic Revival silver coffee/teapot (Lot 7: est. €600 to €800) by Thomas Weir & Sons (1928), embellished with intertwined Celtic rope detail dotted with raised ball decoration; and a piece of Danish vintage china – a Royal Copenhagen Musselmalet sugar bowl (c.1900) made of blue and white ceramic on a metal base (Lot 237: est. €80 to €150). Amongst the jewellery in the sale, a vintage French diamond and enamel cocktail ring in yellow gold (Lot 34: est. €1,400 to €1,800) is designed as a flower with green and blue enamel petals and diamonds placed like dewdrops. See
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bishop's House items sold to help settle abuse claims
The contents of a former Catholic bishop's home in Newry have been auctioned by the Diocese of Dromore, which will use some of the proceeds to compensate clerical abuse victims. In recent years the diocese was sued by a number of people who were sexually abused as children by Dromore clergymen, including the late Fr Malachy Finegan. The Bishop's House, set in grounds off Newry's Armagh Road, was earmarked in 2023 as being among the diocesan assets that could be sold to meet its liabilities. In a statement, the diocese said it was also selling the contents of the house to fund "various safeguarding matters, including redress for victims and survivors of abuse". Finegan, who died in 2002, was headmaster of the neighbouring St Colman's College boys' school and also served as parish priest in Clonduff, County Down. Some of his victims received six-figure sums in compensation after initiating legal action against the Diocese of Dromore, including one man who secured £400,000. A few months after that 2023 settlement, the diocese identified assets it could sell "in order to meet our existing and ongoing safeguarding responsibilities". These included the Bishop's House and adjacent lands close to St Colman's College. This week hundreds of items from inside the listed building, including ornate furniture, paintings and ornaments, went under the hammer. The auction attracted interest from several hundred bidders from around the world, according to Victor Mee Auctions, the County Cavan firm which handled the sale. Among the more significant items was a marble-topped table, originally from Tandragee Castle, which was bought by a priest in a 1950s dispersal sale. The table had a top estimate of €8,000 (£6,700), but on Wednesday it sold for €33,600 (£28,000). "We knew it was going to do a lot better than the estimate, but it probably went higher than we thought," auctioneer Brian Mee told BBC News NI. He could not reveal the buyer's identity but said the transaction meant the table would stay on the island of Ireland. "It's nice that it's staying, because it is a piece of Irish history," he added. At the weekend the Bishop's House was opened to the public so bidders could view its contents. Mr Mee estimated about 700 people visited the house over three open days, and a similar number of online bidders took part in the first auction on Wednesday. He added there was plenty of interest from the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, the UK and across Ireland. Although there were more than 1,000 lots in the Bishop's House auction catalogue, many of them were not owned by the Diocese of Dromore. About half were from other estates, including some of the quirkier items such as antique guns and taxidermy animals. Asked if the Bishop's House has now been sold, the diocese replied: "The auction is taking place while the process for the sale of the house and lands is ongoing." The building is the former residence of previous Dromore bishops. The last man to hold that post was Bishop John McAreavey, who resigned seven years ago following criticism of how he dealt with Fr Finegan. Bishop McAreavey was not replaced when he stepped down in 2018 - instead his duties were taken on by apostolic administrators appointed by Pope Francis. Dromore's current apostolic administrator is the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin. In a letter to people in the Diocese of Dromore in November 2023, Archbishop Martin announced a proposal to sell the Bishop's House and nearby lands. At the time, he said some abuse survivors had taken compensation cases against the diocese and he was "conscious that remaining diocesan funds are limited". In the letter, Archbishop Martin repeated his apology "for the hurt and damage" caused to victims and survivors of clerical abuse, describing it as a "terrible wrong". He said he wanted to tell parishioners how the diocese was going to find the resources needed to meet its ongoing responsibilities "for the legacy of abuse and for keeping all children and vulnerable people safe now and in the future in all Church activities". However, one of Finegan's victims told BBC News NI he is concerned about how local parishioners will respond to the sell-off of Church property. Tony Gribbon leads the Dromore Group, which represents 15 men who were abused as children by clergy in the diocese. He said a damaging narrative was emerging that the diocese felt like it had to sell off "the family silver to pay off childhood sex abuse survivors". "We're frightened that there could be a public reaction if the Church continues to link redress to the selling off of key Church assets," Mr Gribben said. His group is also seeking reassurances from the diocese about what will happen to the archives of former Dromore bishops after the sale. The campaigner added the auctioned items may appear "glamourous" to some bidders but for Dromore survivors they will be forever "tainted" by association with abuse. Fr Malachy Finegan was recently described by lawyers representing his victims as "one of Ireland's most prolific child abusers". The priest was accused of abusing several boys at St Colman's College where he taught from 1967 to 1976, eventually becoming its headmaster. After leaving the school, he was appointed parish priest of Clonduff, where he was also accused of a long campaign of child sexual abuse. But during his lifetime he was never prosecuted or questioned by police about the allegations against him. Proposals to demolish parochial house of accused priest Finegan abuse survivor in £400,000 settlement Ex-pupil awarded £30k damages over alleged abuse Man abused by priest gets six-figure settlement
BBC News
14-02-2025
- BBC News
Newry: Bishop's House contents sold to help pay for abuse claims
The contents of a former Catholic bishop's home in Newry have been auctioned by the Diocese of Dromore, which will use some of the proceeds to compensate clerical abuse victims. In recent years the diocese was sued by a number of people who were physically and sexually abused as children by one of its priests, the late Fr Malachy Bishop's House, set in grounds off Newry's Armagh Road, was earmarked in 2023 as being among the diocesan assets that could be sold to meet its a statement, the diocese said it will also use the sale of its contents to fund "various safeguarding matters, including redress for victims and survivors of abuse". Finegan, who died in 2002, was headmaster of the neighbouring St Colman's College boys' school, and also served as a parish priest in Clonduff, County Down. Some of his victims received six-figure sums in compensation after initiating legal action against the Diocese of Dromore, including one man who secured £400,000.A few months after that 2023 settlement, the diocese said it had identified assets it could sell "in order to meet our existing and ongoing safeguarding responsibilities".These included the Bishop's House, its gardens and some adjacent lands close to St Colman's College. This week hundreds of items from inside the listed building, including ornate furniture, paintings and ornaments, went under the hammer. Marble table sold for €33,600 The auction attracted interest from several hundred bidders from around the world, according to Victor Mee Auctions, the County Cavan firm which handled the the more significant items was a marble-topped table, originally from Tandragee Castle, which was bought by a priest in a dispersal sale in the 1950s. The table had a top estimate of €8,000 (£6,700), but on Wednesday night it sold for €33,600 (£28,000)."We knew it was going to do a lot better than the estimate, but it probably went higher than we thought," auctioneer Brian Mee told BBC News could not reveal the buyer's identity but said the transaction meant the table would stay on the island of Ireland. "It's nice that it's staying, because it is a piece of Irish history," he said. At the weekend the Bishop's House was opened to the public so that potential bidders could view the building's Mee estimated about 700 people visited the house over the three open days, and a similar number of online bidders took part in the first auction on added there was plenty of interest from customers in the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, the UK and across Ireland. Although there were more than 1,000 lots in the Bishop's House auction catalogue, many of them were not owned by the Diocese of half of the lots were from other estates, including some of the quirkier items, such as antique guns and taxidermy if the Bishop's House has now been sold, the diocese replied: "The auction is taking place while the process for the sale of the house and lands is ongoing." The Bishop's House is the former private residence of the holders of the title of the Bishop of Dromore. The last man to hold that post was Bishop John McAreavey, who resigned seven years ago following criticism of how he dealt with Fr Malachy Finegan. Bishop McAreavey was not replaced when he stepped down in 2018 - instead his duties have been carried out by apostolic administrators appointed by Pope current apostolic administrator is the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon took on the role in addition to his responsibilities as archbishop of the neighbouring Archdiocese of Armagh. 'Diocesan funds are limited' In a letter to people in the Diocese of Dromore in November 2023, Archbishop Martin announced a proposal to sell the Bishop's House and nearby the time, he said some abuse survivors had taken legal cases against the diocese for compensation and he was "conscious that remaining diocesan funds are limited". In the letter, Archbishop Martin repeated his apology "for the hurt and damage" caused to victims and survivors of clerical abuse, describing it as a "terrible wrong".He said he wanted to tell parishioners how the diocese was going to find the resources needed to meet its ongoing responsibilities "for the legacy of abuse and for keeping all children and vulnerable people safe now and in the future in all Church activities". His letter also outlined that sections of the land "would likely be very suitable for residential development" to meet housing needs in Newry. Who was Fr Malachy Finegan? Fr Malachy Finegan was recently described by a law firm representing some of his victims as "one of Ireland's most prolific child abusers".The priest was accused of abusing several boys at St Colman's College in Newry, where he taught from 1967 to 1976, eventually becoming its he left the school, he was appointed as a parish priest of Clonduff, where he was also accused of a long campaign of child sexual abuse. But during his lifetime he was never prosecuted or questioned by police about the allegations made against last year, Clonduff parish announced plans to demolish its parochial house in Hilltown, in which Finegan was accused of carrying out multiple sexual some of Finegan's victims objected to that announcement because they had not been properly consulted.
