Princess Grace photographs to be sold by Kilkenny auctioneers

A remarkable collection of antiques, furniture, paintings and historical memorabilia is currently going under the hammer as Kilkenny-based Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers conduct a major country house contents sale in County Mayo.

The auction, which commenced on Tuesday at Newport House features more than 900 lots accumulated over generations at the historic Georgian property.

Among the most intriguing items are two original black-and-white photographs documenting a visit by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Princess Grace and their family to Newport House.

The photographs, offered as Lot 555, provide a fascinating connection between an Irish country house and one of the world's most famous royal families.

Overlooking Clew Bay, Newport House was built by Sir Neale O'Donnell, whose family acquired the estate in 1785.

The O'Donnell family played a significant role in Irish political and social history, with Sir Neale becoming a baronet in 1780.

The house itself is noted for its Georgian architecture, particularly its grand staircase, arched hall and elegant plasterwork.

Its history also includes a connection to one of Ireland's most important literary treasures.

For a period, Newport House was home to the seventh-century Cathach of St Columba, regarded as the oldest surviving Irish manuscript and the second-oldest Latin psalter in the world.

The manuscript had been carried into battle by the O'Donnells as a talisman of victory before eventually being entrusted to the O'Donell family.

One of the most compelling chapters in Newport House's more recent history involves Princess Grace of Monaco, the former Hollywood actress Grace Kelly.

According to the auction catalogue, Princess Grace and her husband, Prince Rainier III, visited the cottage near Newport House in 1961, where her grandfather had lived before emigrating to the United States in 1887.

The visit reflected Princess Grace's Irish family connections and forms part of the property's extraordinary history.

Two original photographs showing the royal couple and their family arriving at and leaving Newport House are included in the auction as Lot 555.

The images are likely to be of particular interest to collectors of royal memorabilia, Irish social history and photography.

The two-day sale also features a wide range of furniture, paintings, antiques and artefacts associated with Newport House and its former owners.

In 1945, the estate was purchased by Michael McShane, an Irish emigrant who had won the Irish Sweepstakes prize. He subsequently sold the property and its fishery rights to British businessman and angler Henry Mumford-Smith, who transformed Newport House into a luxury fishing hotel.

The property later passed to his son Francis and daughter-in-law Eleanor, who continued to develop its reputation for hospitality and sport.

In 1985, Newport House and its estate were acquired by Kieran and Thelma Thompson.

Under their ownership, the property became both a working country house hotel and a showcase for Irish heritage.