Rising rebels’ ‘white flag’ on sale after being rescued from skip

A linen handkerchief reputedly used by 1916 rebels as a "white flag" in Moore Street to surrender to British troops – that was rescued from a skip in Dublin – is to be sold at auction.

The white linen handkerchief, remarkably pristine despite its age – is, according to the auctioneers “believed to be the original flag of truce shown by Capt Michael William O’Reilly at Moore St in Dublin to indicate that the Volunteers wished to surrender their final position there on Saturday afternoon, April 29th, 1916”.

Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, said the flag, valued at up to €5,000, and other items that belonged to Michael William O’Reilly – who served with the GPO garrison and was aide-de- camp to Proclamation signatory Joseph Plunkett – has been consigned to an auction of memorabilia scheduled for the Gresham Hotel on April 23rd.

O’Reilly, an insurance clerk from Stillorgan, Co Dublin, joined the IRB in 1911 and the Irish Volunteers in 1913.

Flag of truce

According to catalogue notes, Plunkett instructed Capt O’Reilly to show a flag of truce so that talks could take place.

He did so using a linen handkerchief from his pocket.

Auctioneer George F Mealy said that, years later, O'Reilly gave the items – also including a set of Rosary beads – to a colleague.

“The items ended up in a skip when the New Ireland Assurance Offices in South Frederick Street were closed in the early 1970s and were saved from going to the landfill when they were recovered by the present unnamed owner who has consigned the items for sale”.