The Yeats Family Sale: NUI Galway, the Irish State, and the Auction

The Yeats Family Sale: NUI Galway, the Irish State, and the Auction

Wednesday 4 October 12noon

The Bridge Seminar Room (Hardiman Research Building 1001)

Participants:

Adrian Paterson

Adrian Frazier

Anne Byrne

Barry Houlihan

Marie Boran

The major sale of items associated with W.B. Yeats, Jack B. Yeats, and their family in 224 lots went ahead last Wednesday at Sotheby’s auctioneers in London, selling for a total of £2 million. Adrian Paterson led a campaign to retain the items for the state with a coordinated letter in the Irish Times. Questions were asked in the Dáil and the campaign received coverage around the world.* Nevertheless NUI Galway was successful in securing several items of real importance to the west of Ireland. This pop-up event discusses the fall-out from the controversial sale, the role of the state and its major national institutions, and what NUI Galway managed to secure.

*See for example New York Times 28 Sept:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/arts/yeats-auction-sothebys.html

Irish Times 28 Sept: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/wb-yeats-s-love-letters-fail-to-sell-in-london-auction-1.3235647