Dublin Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ireland's History should not be for sale - Sinn Féin

Published: 28 April, 2009

Members of Sinn Féin today placed a picket on Adams Auctioneers on Stephen's Green in protest at the sale of significant Irish historical artefacts. Speaking at the picket South Dublin Sinn Féin by-election candidate Shaun Tracey called on the Government to compulsorily purchase the items and put them on public display in the National Museum for the benefit of all Irish people and tourists to our country.

Mr. Tracey said, "Over the last number of years James Adams Auctioneers have 'celebrated' Easter by selling to the highest bidder significant historical artefacts relating to the 1916 Rising and the Tan War period. This goes completely against the grain of what the men and women of this period stood for. All significant artefacts relating to this period of our history should be in the hands of the Irish people.

"I am calling on the Government, in the spirit of their renewed enthusiasm to celebrate the 1916 Rising, to compulsorily purchase these items and put them on public display in the National Museum for the benefit of all Irish people and tourists to our country.

"The Government should also move to protect 16 Moore Street, the last headquarters of the leaders of the Rising, from the threat posed by developers." ENDS