![\"Image:](\"https:\/\/letters1916.ie\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/image-1.jpg\")
The opening page of Sir Alfred Irwin\u2019s 43-page letter from his home in Ailesbury Road to his daughter Dorothy in colonial Burma in which he describes the 1916 Rising in Dublin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
An eyewitness account of the 1916 Rising, in a letter written by a retired judge from Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 to his daughter in\u00a0Burma<\/a>, has been acquired by the\u00a0National Library of Ireland<\/a>. It bought the diaries and letters of Sir\u00a0Alfred Irwin<\/a>\u00a0for \u20ac2,100, slightly over the \u20ac1,500-\u20ac1,800 estimate, in\u00a0Whyte\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0History sale last Sunday. The Roscommon-born Irwin had joined the British Empire\u2019s administrative service and became the most senior judge in colonial-era Burma before retiring home to Ireland.<\/p>\n Online bidders from some\u00a030 countries, including China, Hungary and New Zealand, joined bidders in the Dublin saleroom when political, cultural and sporting memorabilia and collectibles went under the hammer. Overall, 71 per cent of lots sold and 43 per cent went to online bidders.\u00a0Fine Gael\u00a0is understood to have bought some of the 1930s Cumann na nGaedheal election posters to fill gaps in the party\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n Ten bidders competed for a censored Irish version of a 1960s cinema poster for\u00a0Dr No<\/em>which made \u20ac3,800 (\u20ac600-\u20ac800); a 1967 All-Ireland hurling final medal belonging to a member of the Kilkenny team, \u20ac2,700 (\u20ac1,500- \u20ac2,000); and an 18th-century carved penal cross from Co Monaghan, \u20ac2,800. Among the more affordable lots, a collection of early-20th century postcards, made \u20ac130 (\u20ac100-\u20ac150).<\/p>\n Click here<\/a>\u00a0to read the article on the Irish Times website<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to view previous article “<\/span>An Irishman\u2019s Diary: An Ailesbury Road view of the 1916 Rising”\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0Michael Parsons<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0the Irish Times<\/a>, 4 March 2014\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Article by\u00a0Michael Parsons\u00a0in\u00a0the Irish Times, 15 March 2014: An eyewitness account of the 1916 Rising, in a letter written by a retired judge from Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 to his daughter in\u00a0Burma, has been acquired by the\u00a0National Library of Ireland. Continue reading 1916 Rising: Ailesbury Road letter bought by State<\/span>