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A historic artefact used during the final surrender of the 1916 Easter Rising should be secured by the State and made available to the publiic before it is sold at auction, Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has said.
In a Fianna Fáil press release issued today, the Clare TD urged the Government to intervene ahead of a public auction of the so-called “Flag of Truce”, which was used to signal the surrender of the Volunteers at the end of the Rising.
The artefact, a 16 square inch linen handkerchief, is listed for auction by Fonsie Mealy’s auction house in Co. Kilkenny on Wednesday.
Crowe said the item carries considerable historical significance because of its connection to the final hours of the Easter Rising.
“The ‘flag of truce’ is a humble linen handkerchief but what it symbolises in our journey to nationhood is immense,” he said.
“Moore Street was the last stand for the 1916 rebels. Under intense artillery fire and with the GPO in flames, they retreated to house along Moore Street.
“16 Moore Street, from which the flag was flown by O’Reilly, is officially recognised as the final command post of those brave volunteers in 1916. Such is the significance of the location and what happened there, work is underway to preserve the site and develop no. 16 and three neighbouring houses into a commemorative centre.”
The handkerchief was waved by Captain Michael William O’Reilly from the doorway of 16 Moore Street on April 19th 1916 at the direction of Joseph Mary Plunkett, according to the auction listing.
At that point, the Volunteers had been surrounded and were facing defeat following several days of fighting in Dublin.
Crowe argued that the artefact should remain accessible to the public rather than passing into private ownership.
“This handkerchief is at the heart of the story of their last stand,” he said.
“It would be a shame to allow this artefact to slip into a private collection.”
The auctioneers have placed an estimated value of between €10,000 and €15,000 on the item.
Crowe said that valuation represented an opportunity for the State to acquire the artefact for the national collection.
“Ahead of the auction, Deputy Crowe has told the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that given the relatively modest auction estimate, the State should step in and secure the artefact into possession of the State,” the press release stated.
The Clare TD said he had already raised the matter with Heritage Minister Christopher O’Sullivan.
“I have engaged with Minister Christopher O’Sullivan on this matter,” Crowe said.
“I am strongly urging the Minister and his Department officials to act swiftly before tomorrow’s auction to ensure this piece of our revolutionary heritage remains in Ireland and in public ownership.”
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