St John Henry Newman Photo: CNS photo/courtesy Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory Rare letters from Cardinal John Henry Newman are among items up for sale in an upcoming auction of the contents of Howth Castle.
The 24 letters described as “extremely rare” by auctioneers were written by the saint between the period 1863-1878.
The letters are addressed to Thomas Gaisford, eldest son of the late Dean of Christ Church, who was, like Cardinal Newman a recent convert to Catholicism and an enthusiastic supporter of the project of founding an Oratory in Dublin.
Most of the letters for sale date from 1863-1867 and concern the suitability of a site then being offered and the raising of subscriptions to pay for purchasing it and building the college.
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, from Kilkenny, will auction the contents of Howth Castle on September 8 and 9 and September 22 and 23.