Irish Republican News · April 15, 2010

Heritage sell-off continues

The last letter written by Kevin Barry the night before his execution is to be auctioned to the highest bidder in the latest sell off of Irish heritage.

Thousands of documents from IRA headquarters in the 1920s are among the highlights of a forthcoming auction relating to Ireland’s struggle for independence.

Items are expected to fetch about a half million Euro during the auction next week.

The final letter by 18-year-old Kevin Barry from Mountjoy was described as “truly unique and poignant” by George Mealy of Mealy auctioneers.

Their annual “Independence Auction” comes after a controversial attempt last month to sell an original Irish tricolour flag, taken from the GPO after the 1916 Easter Rising.

Barry wrote to his friends in blue prison pencil on two sheets of paper on October 31st, 1920, the night before he was famously hanged for his part in an IRA attack.

The document has the “bargain” price of between 14,000 and 18,000 euro.

A book signed by Roger Casement the night before his execution at Pentonville in August 1916 following his conviction for high treason is also on the auction block.

Heritage campaigners have again urged the Dublin government to intervene to end the auctions and safeguard the historic treasures for the state.

Last year, a rare original copy of the 1916 Proclamation sold for 2

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