Peace of history for €20k

YOU can’t buy peace, but you can certainly get your hands on the next best thing – as the Good Friday Agreement is going under the hammer.

An official copy of the historic 1998 peace document – signed by all the participants in the talks to help put an end to the Troubles in the North – will be auctioned with a predicted price tag of up to €20,000.

Whyte’s Auctioneers are selling the document this weekend, as part of its Eclectic Collection.

The Good Friday Agreement has several signatures, including those of John Hume, the late Martin McGuinness, David Trimble, Bertie Ahern and John de Chastelain.

It has been given an estimated value of between €15,000 and €20,000.

Another highly priced item at the sale is a bottle of 1916 whiskey, from the Dublin Whiskey Distillery, valued at between €20,000 and €30,000.

In its catalogue, Whyte’s said: ‘As far as we can ascertain, this is the oldest bottle of whiskey to ever be offered at auction.’

The whiskey, inset, was tasted and resealed, before being put up for sale, and was said to have a smooth, dry flavour, with hints of honey, pepper, sultanas, stewed fruits, mocha and rich sherry.

‘The quality really shines through in the finish, which is long lasting and rich,’ Whyte’s said.

It was originally bought by Patrick McGlade, who owned a number of bars in Belfast, and was passed on to two descendants prior to the auction. The sale, which certainly lives up to its eclectic title, also features historical artefacts, such as a Bronze Age sword valued at up to €8,000, as well as an extremely rare Commonwealth period Irish silver porringer – a small bowl which carries a guide price of €50,000 to €70,000. There are also coins, banknotes, literature and sporting and entertainment memorabilia for sale. The items can be viewed by appointment at Whyte’s galleries on Molesworth Street in Dublin. Due to social distancing, places at the auction this Saturday and Sunday will be limited, but it will also be taking place online, at bid.whytes.ie.