Irish antiques dealer to the stars to sell New York shop contents Catherine Deneuve was ‘incredibly beautiful and pleasant’, says Corkonian Niall Smith
about 7 hours ago Elizabeth Birdthistle
Irish antique dealer Niall Smith with artist Edwina Sandys (grand-daughter of Winston Churchill) in New York 2007
At the age of 84, veteran New York-based antiques dealer Niall Smith is finally calling it a day at his showroom in Greenwich Village. After more than 50 years in the business, the contents of his treasure trove will be auctioned by the Stair Galleries of New York on May 6th.
The Kanturk man, who was described by Ralph Lauren as “displaying a dazzling array of 19th-century neoclassical furniture . in his small jewel-box shop”, was initially destined for a very different life.
Castletown Cox €12.6m
Tulira Castle, outside Ardrahan, Co Galway, and famed for its association with Lady Gregory, WB Yeats, John Betjeman and a host of literary nobles, has been given a new lease of life as the country residence of CarTrawler founder Niall Turley (52) who paid €5.8m for the pile and 265 acre estate some years ago.
Built around 1882 by Edward Martyn, it was later owned by his cousin Mary, wife of Fitzroy Hemphill, a baron, barrister and horse racing enthusiast.
Turley is believed to have netted €40m after selling internet car rental booking system CarTrawler, which he owned with his brother. He continues to run his numerous business interests from his home in Rathgar, Dublin.