I attended my first auction for some years on Monday last at Keighery’s of Waterford – a venue that I had been meaning to check out for sometime and I was not disappointed. The salesrooms are just round the corner from the Tower Hotel and there is plenty of safe on-street car parking. Having not been able to get to the viewing I arrived bright and early at 9am and had a good look at the 750+ lots of furniture, paintings and collectables in peace and quiet.
Auctioneer, Rody Keighery, explained to me that due to the serious decline in house sales there has been a reduction in the quantity and quality of items coming into the saleroom. That said, there was still plenty of interest and I had to resist the urge to bid on a pinball machine, missed a nice collection of Meccano but came away with three ‘heavy’ cast iron railway signs – a snip at €92.00!
The sale was well attended by private and trade buyers but despite this there were still plenty of bargains to be had with most lots being sold. The first two hundred lots were got through in an hour but as the quality improved the rate slowed down to the 100 lot an hour mark.
Refreshments (Tea/coffee/sandwiches and cakes) were available and doing a brisk trade. The salerooms are well heated and I would recommend the venue to all comers. And if there’s nothing in the sale that takes your fancy there’s always Keighery’s own, well stocked, antiques shop which adjoins the salerooms.
As I mentioned I arrived early having left home at 6am and after viewing the sale went looking for breakfast. One of the Keighery’s staff suggested that I try ‘The Park Lodge Cafe’ at the entrance to the nearby People’s Park . I have to say that it was like an oasis in the depressed city that Waterford has become – a veritable beacon of hospitality. The former Park Ranger’s house has been transformed into a cosy, welcoming place purveying all sorts of homemade dishes.
I opted for the Irish breakfast – and before long
I was sitting down to a fine, grease free, fry-up (2 very tasty sausages, two rashers, two eggs and a good helping of mushrooms, toast, marmalade and a large cup of coffee – €8.90) all served up on designer style crockery. The tables spaced a nice distance apart added to this very pleasant, and unexpected culinary experience. If you attend any of Keighery’s sales or happen to be in the area call in here – you won’t be disappointed!
Collect Ireland 