A sale of rare books and manuscripts at the library of King's Inn in Dublin causes cultural controversy.
Historian Thomas P O'Neill became involved in what became known as The Battle of the Books when the Law Society of Ireland engaged in the sale of contents of the King's Inns Library.
Thomas P O'Neill says that while the books for sale are scientific, theological and geographical, they are also old and therefore historical covering a broad spectrum of life.
History is everything.
He also adds that we do not know if there is anything of political value in the collection of books being put up for sale. He hopes that other Irish institutions have trustees that take a more responsible view to their library holdings.
Having strongly protested at the sale of these books by the legal professional body of Ireland, Thomas P O'Neill joined with other like-minded individuals to raise funds to buy some of the books for the Irish state.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 April 1972.
