100-years of pub memorabilia collecting comes to auction

An unusual collection of pub memorabilia will be offered at auction from the late Molly McCabe, of the much-loved ‘Molly’s’ pub in Warrenpoint, Co. Down in Northern Ireland.

Her nephew Des McCabe has consigned the items that include 1400 rare pub memorabilia and advertising lots.

The first part of the sale will be offered online at Victor Mee on October 5-6.

Here is a selection of items coming up at the online auction via thesaleroom.com.

Irish DWD whiskey mirror sign

A ‘The Finest Whiskey In The World’ DWD Pure Pot Still, Ten years old, Extra Special framed advertising mirror made by The Plate Glass Co S. M Co Ltd Dublin. Estimated at €6000-10,000.

There are a number of these type of signs in the sale. Among the rarest is a ‘The Finest Whiskey In The World’ DWD Pure Pot Still, Ten years old, Extra Special framed advertising mirror made by The Plate Glass Co S. M Co Ltd Dublin. It carries an estimate of €6000-10,000. View and bid for this Irish whisky mirror via thesaleroom.com.

Guinness calendar

A rare 1950s Guinness perpetual calendar estimated €150-250.

A rare 1950s Guinness perpetual calendar is also among the items on offer. It is estimated €150-250. View and bid for this Guinness calendar via thesaleroom.com.

Power's whiskey mirror

Power's Whiskey John's Lane Distillery mirror estimated at €4000-6000.

This Power's Whiskey John's Lane Distillery mirror in its original frame is regarded as rare and estimated at €4000-6000. View and bid for this Power’s mirror via thesaleroom.com.

Rare whiskey bottle

A rare 1880s unopened Cassidy & Co Monasterevin whiskey bottle.

Not from the McCabe family, but offered within the sale, is a rare 1880s unopened, hand blown full quart size bottle of Cassidy & Co Monasterevin whiskey. This 1880s bottle was matured by the Cassidy family who made whiskey between 1784-1921 in their County Kildare mill. It is estimated at €6000-12,000. View and bid for this Monasterevin whiskey bottle via thesaleroom.com.

‘Molly’s pub’

Established in 1823, the pub was bought by Edward McCabe (Molly’s father) in 1924 and was named The Northern Star Bar before it became E. McCabe and Sons after Edward’s death. Molly, the eldest, left school at 14 to work in the pub and later became manager, running it her whole life until she died in 2011. The pub became known locally as ‘Molly’s’ and today still displays her name above the door.