THE contents of Tullamaine Castle and Stud are to go to auction on Monday, October 25th next through Sean Eacrett Auctions.

Situated in the heart of Tipperary’s stud country, the early 1800s Tullamaine Castle has a rich history. It has been a stud farm in its own right for the last 40 years under the care of Bob Lanigan. Bob and his wife Deirdre have sold the castle and lands and are auctioning the contents, including a fine collection of equine art, some exceptional antiques and sculpture.

Battle of Britain hero Tim Vigors introduced the tradition of horse breeding at Tullamaine. The decorated RAF pilot had been shot down and imprisoned in Burma, presumed dead, before returning to his family home in Tullamaine. When Vigors went missing after being shot down, his dog Snipe went and dug a hole at the top of the rockery, and legend has it he lay down and died.

Fethard

On returning from the war, Tim went into McCarthy’s pub in Fethard. Seeing the crowd waiting outside, Vigors was nervous that his RAF legacy may not be all that welcome in rural Tipperary,; however the crowd were there to welcome him and they hoisted Tim on their shoulders and paraded him as a homecoming hero.

Vigors subsequently entered the world of bloodstock and was one of the original founders of Coolmore Stud.

Tullamaine Castle is also referred to in some of the Mitford books, as Pamela Mitford lived there when she was married to Derek Jackson, the amateur jockey and physicist.

James Bond actor Pearse Brosnan has stabled his horses at Tullamaine and has been a frequent visitor over the years.

Bob Lanigan’s breeding highlights include Delilah, Bin Ajwaad, Hot Tin Roof – a multiple stakes winner – along with Pollenator and The Miniver Rose who won Group 2s on successive days at Doncaster in 2009, a particular highlight for Lanigan.

One of the lots to immediately catch the eye at Tullamaine is a lifesize sculpture of a pack of fox hounds in wire running across the lawn by Rupert Till. Visiting dogs think from a distance that ‘the pack’ is real. The Tipperary kennels are based at Tullamaine.

The art collection includes an oil of jockey Pat Eddery by Peter Curling and three large Curling watercolours of the Tipperary Hunt.

There is a collection of signed prints by British equine and military artist Lionel Edwards, the highlight being Watercolour of Irish Hospital Sweepstakes Morning Exercise May 1966.

Two oils are attributed to 19th century artist J.F. Herring of horses in a paddock.

In the hall are a set of four large hunting plates of engravings after paintings by J.F Herring (1815-1907) of fox hunting: The Kill, The Run, The Meet and The Field, engraved by J Harris.

On show in the house is an important painting by Harry Hall 1814-1882 of Wild Dayrell, winner of the Derby 1855 with Robert Sherwood up, led by the trainer Mr Rickaby.

The auction will take place in the Horse & Jockey Hotel on bank holiday Monday, October 25th starting at 10am sharp.

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