Sotheby's auction possessions of the late inventor Russell Wynne at Kilbrittain Castle in Cork.
Three hundred items were listed for auction, the majority of them from a collection made by inventor Russell Wynne who also owned Kilbrittain Castle. Betty Wynne wife of Russell brought Sotheby's of London in to sell the items. Russell Wynne died when a plane he was flying crashed near Carrigaline on 31 December 1982.
Three Limerick men made the journey to the auction to buy a unique piece of Cork property. Frank Cunningham, Vincent Downey and Charles Foley are members of the Savoy Theatre Organ Preservation Society (STOPS). They returned to Limerick happy, having bought the old Savoy Cinema organ. Frank Cunningham says that when the organ came onto the market following the death of the previous owner, they made their move. Following a successful bid the organ is now the property of STOPS. They paid £340 which is £100 more than the late purchaser paid for it when the Savoy in Cork closed down a few years ago. Frank Cunningham says the organ will require a considerable amount of money to be returned to its original state.
The instrument has to be made back into a playable condition.
Also up for auction were aircraft and vintage cars including a 1920s Rolls Royce which sold for £16,000. Other vintage cars sold for between £12,000 and £15,000. A model train engine was sold for £3,000. In all, £150,000 was raised by the auction.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 September 1983. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
