A strange assortment of donations go under the hammer for Live Aid at the Mansion House in Dublin.
On 13 July 1985, RTÉ Television broadcast 'Live Aid for Africa', the global rock concert held to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. During this marathon event, Irish viewers were invited to phone in with pledges of donations and to bid on items for auction.
A week later, donations left over from 'Live Aid for Africa' are auctioned off at the Mansion House in Dublin. Almost 300 items are up for sale. The assortment of lots includes paintings, records, guitars and keyboards. A glass once used by Prince Charles raises £300.
Tony Boland who is co-ordinating the project for RTÉ describes some of the generous donations in the auction.
A grandmother, a mother and a daughter, all of whom donated together, came in, the three of them together, and donated their engagement rings.
These rings have been professionally valued at approximately £10,000.
RTÉ Radio 2 kept the public aware of the auction where members of the public could bid in person at the Mansion House or by phone. In the spirit of Live Aid those taking the telephone bids and involved in the running of the auction are volunteers. The six auctioneers who gave their service for no fee are from the Irish Auctioneers Association.
RTÉ producer Niall Mathews does not think the Live Aid fundraising will end with the Mansion House auction. Donations are still being made, so further auctions may take place in the coming months.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 July 1985. The reporter is Conor Fennell.
