First auctions and fairs of 2015

The first Irish art auction of the year – an online auction – is under way at west Cork-based Morgan O’Driscoll Auctioneers.

Although bidding is via the internet only, the paintings – by artists including Mark O'Neill, Peter Collis, Arthur Maderson, Graham Knuttel and Cecil Maguire, can be viewed in the saleroom in Skibbereen from Thursday, January 15th. Bidding runs until Monday, January 19th when it will end between 6.30pm and 10.15pm (for more details, see: morganodriscoll.com).

Among the top lots are: Market Day, Lodève by Arthur Maderson €4,000-5,000; La Chemineé (St Paul de Vence) by Mark O'Neill €3,500-4,500; Still Life – Fruit and Wine by Peter Collis €2,500-3,500; Derrynane by Cecil Maguire €2,500-3,500; and The Three Amigos by Graham Knuttel 2,000-3,000.

Separately, Hibernian Antiques and Art Fairs, which is celebrating its 25th year in business, said its first antiques, art and vintage fair of 2015 will take place on Sunday, January 11th, at the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, from 11am to 6pm where 30 dealers will exhibit.

Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian said that dealers had experienced “tough times over the last five or six years” but believes the business has “turned a corner and the public are starting to loosen their purse strings again”.