Arthur’s collection goes to auction

Antiques, original photographs and files, as well as a small library of Irish aviation books, owned by the late Irish Times reporter, Arthur Quinlan, are to be sold at auction.

Arthur was raised in Quin and spent most of his career reporting out of Shannon Airport, from 1947 to 1997. Arthur settled on the North Circular Road in Limerick and died in 2012, just shy of his 93rd birthday. He retired at age 87 and was Ireland’s longest-serving journalist, covering Shannon Airport and the Mid-Western District.

For over 50 years, he reported on Shannon’s momentous, sometimes tragic events, and interviewed many international figures who passed through the airport when it was a compulsorily stopover into Europe. Among them were Hollywood stars, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant and Marlene Dietrich. He also interviewed every North American president, from Harry S Truman to George Bush, as well as Russian leaders. European royalty, including Princess Margaret and the Duke of Edinburgh, future popes and international musicians were photographed and interviewed by Quinlan, as they quietly passed through Ireland, some becoming personal friends.

An unlikely visitor, who stayed and enjoyed Quinlan’s hospitality, was the Marxist revolutionary hero, Che Guevara (1928-1967), who discussed with him his Irish ancestry. Others included Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), Yehudi Menuhin OM, KBE (1916-1999), Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) and Susan Hayward (1917-1975).

Quinlan sent his dispatches to the four corners of the globe, via Reuters, United Press International, AP and a myriad of broadcasting organisations. On a more prosaic note, he covered the homecoming visit of President John F Kennedy to Ireland in 1963 and, later the same year, his assassination. In 1967, as the representative of European Journalists, he placed a wreath on Kennedy’s Grave in Arlington Cemetery.

A fascinating and generous man, Quinlan was one of the few who interviewed Captain Charles Lindberg shortly after the fatal kidnapping of his young son. Captain Lindbergh opened up to Arthur, in an interview that had editors worldwide shouting ‘hold the front page’.

On hearing Air Force One was due to make a confidential stop-over at Shannon with the then President Bush on board, via his close contacts with the on-the-ground Shannon staff, Quinlan drove to the airport in the small hours of the morning in the hope of getting an interview. Bush, who wasn’t due to leave the plane, decided to visit the Duty Free at 4am and Quinlan, for his perseverance and gentle approach, got an important interview, where Bush discussed his thoughts on the Middle East and the fast-coming Gulf War.

Quinlan, truly an international journalist, was a conduit to the world from his Shannon base, at a time when communications were not as they are now.

A selection of memorabilia, including antiques, original photographs and files, silver, a rare 1960’s recording chronometer wristwatch and a small library of Irish aviation and other interest books, totalling approximately 250 volumes, will be sold at auction this weekend.

Matthews Auctioneers of Oldcastle, County Meath, will auction the lot, which, in addition to the Quinlan collection, will also include numerous antiques, mirrors, crystal and porcelain, Irish art, jewellery and rugs. The auction takes place in Oldcastle at 6.30pm on October 28.