Treaty delight as medal goes home
A priceless piece of GAA memorabilia will be back where it belongs next week after the Limerick Leader newspaper secured Malachi O'Brien's 1888 All-Ireland final winners' medal at an auction.
The newspaper's chairman John McStay, via telephone, was the highest bidder for the unique medal at a midweek auction at Sotheby's in London - it fetched €31,000, about three times its guide price.
The 9-ct gold medal was won by Ballinvrina, Emly resident O'Brien back in 1888 when the Limerick Commercials club beat Dundalk Young Irelands by 1-4 to 0-3 in the first All-Ireland football final.
The latest owner of the medal was the Northampton-based Mary Doran, the daughter of O'Brien's great-grand nephew.
McStay, who will put the medal on public display in the Treaty city, said: "It’s a unique piece of Limerick history and we felt the appropriate place for it to be was in Limerick.
"We’re delighted with our acquisition. It’s a little bit more expensive than we thought it might be - but we were fairly determined to get it."
