Sale of the century goes on at the Green despite brief SF uprising

The auction room upstairs in James Adam & Sons of Stephen's Green filled from the end, like a classroom.

The prized seats were those at the back wall and latecomers were forced to sit under the nose of auctioneer Stuart Cole. Others gathered at the door, their bidding paddles tucked discreetly into their catalogues, ready to buy items from a collection of 480 lots relating to the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence.

Around the walls of the room were some of the items for sale, including a 1932 photograph of the members of the first Fianna Fáil government, a Galway banner of green cloth, and a portrait of Kevin Barry in a football jersey, flanked by Tricolours. One framed poster ordered the gathered to "Hold the Rents", and another detailed a list of regulations to be observed under martial law.

The room filled and a buzz began as Mr Cole took to the podium. Around him other auctioneers on phones and online waited for the first item. Mr Cole asked bidders to be quick and reminded them that most of the items would not be available for collection until today.

First under the hammer was an internment notice directing that John Meagher be interned at Frongoch. Valued at up to €600, it proved not so popular with the gathered crowd, fetching only €425.

Among the most popular items for sale were collections of postcards. A selection of eight political cards, including one of Countess Markievicz, was estimated at €60 but sold for €750. And a collection of seven postcards featuring portraits of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, valued at €125, sold for €600.

The sale of the second lot was interrupted by Ógra Sinn Féin. Four young men burst into the auction room throwing leaflets and chanting "Ireland's history should not be for sale", and telling the crowd they should be ashamed of themselves. In a matter of seconds, they were dragged from the room by attendants and gardaí.

Two were arrested for public order offences and taken to Pearse Street Garda station. A further 20 stayed outside the building and attempted to disrupt the sale with fog horns and chants.

Upstairs, attendants discreetly shut the windows, and the sale went on.