Famous Limerick journalist’s rare photos up for sale

THE PHOTOGRAPHS and papers of the late, great journalist Arthur Quinlan will be up for auction later this month.

Arthur, who lived on the North Circular Road and was a freelance with The Irish Times, amongst other publications, passed away in December 2012 aged 92.

Known as the Shannon Airport correspondent, he enjoyed unparalled access to some of the most famous politicians and stars, who arrived into the mid-west airport.

He began writing for The Irish Times in 1945, and in the decades since covered the pivotal stories centering on Shannon Airport, but in recent years expressed disappointment at the demise of the ‘last runway in Europe’.

Over 170 lots in this auction will be sold by order the executors of the late Arthur Quinlan, including antiques, original photographs and files, and silver. In addition, there is a rare 1960s recording chronometer wristwatch, which has an estimated value of €250 - €350 and a small library of Irish. “For over 50 years he reported on Shannon’s momentous, sometimes tragic events, and interviewed many international figures who passed through the airport when it was a compulsorily stop-over into Europe,” said the auctioneer Damien Matthews, of Oldcastle, county Meath.

Among his famous interviewees were Hollywood stars Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, and every north American president from Harry S. Truman to George Bush. Mr Matthews said they are “privileged” to have been chosen as the auctioneers for this collection, the fully illustrated catalogue of which is now online. The auction will take place on October 28. His home on the North Circular Road, Rocklawn, has also been put up for sale for €280,000.