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Thursday 2nd January 2025 - Sharna Bennett
As we welcome 2025, Eastbourne Auctions is kicking off the new year in spectacular fashion with their 8-10th January auction showcasing a wide array of fascinating items.
Amongst the standout lots is a remarkable piece from Irish history: a silver-plated tray inscribed, “Presented to Éamon de Valera by Fianna Fáil for Services to the State”.
While the tray is a beautiful object in itself, it’s also a substantial connection to one of Ireland’s most iconic figures and a testament to his profound influence on the nation’s political and cultural landscape.
Éamon de Valera was a pivotal figure in Ireland’s struggle for independence and subsequent nation-building. Born in New York City in 1882 to an Irish mother, his early years were spent in County Limerick, where he was raised by relatives. This dual connection to Ireland and the United States would later play a critical role in shaping his legacy.
Éamon de Valera
[Image Source]
De Valera rose to prominence during the 1916 Easter Rising, a rebellion that marked a turning point in Ireland’s fight for independence. Arrested and sentenced to death for his role in the uprising, he was spared execution — likely due to his American citizenship — while many of his comrades faced the firing squad. This reprieve allowed him to continue his work as a stateman, ultimately becoming one of the architects of modern Ireland.
Following his release, De Valera became a towering political figure, going on to lead the Fianna Fáil party, which he founded in 1926, before serving as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and later as President of Ireland from 1959 to 1973. Throughout his career, de Valera was celebrated and criticised in equal measure, but his contributions to Ireland’s political and cultural identity remain indisputable — a testament to the high regard in which he was held by Fianna Fáil and the Irish state.
The tray’s inscription, honouring his “services to the state”, is a reflection of the high regard in which he was held by his party and his country.
The inscription on the silver tray reads ‘Presented to Éamon de Valera by Fianna Fáil for services to the state’.
View Lot here.
This silver-plated tray is expected to be a standout lot at Eastbourne Auctions’ January event. This comes following a similar lot in Eastbourne Auctions’ October sale of 2024—a silver-plated calling card tray belonging to Thomas James Clarke, leader of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, along with a personal letter, which fetched £1,600 under the hammer.
Such items rarely appear on the market, and this is an incredibly unique opportunity for historians and collectors alike.
Eastbourne Auctions’ January Live Online Auction will feature a wide array of items, each with their own significance, but for anyone with an interest in Irish history or political memorabilia, few can match the historical significance on Éamon de Valera’s silver-plated tray. Its provenance and the story it holds make it a must-see for bidders!
This silver-plated tray is a tangible link to Ireland’s past and Éamon de Valera’s incredibly legacy. Opportunities like this are rare, so be ready to bid when the event launches in January!