The Melting Pot — Fears for Safety of Sword and Mace — Public Anxiety

The Galway Observer, 18 February, 1933.

There was a great hub bub amongst members of the Galway Urban Council two years ago when it was stated that Galway's famous Sword and Mace had been sold to an American dealer and that these splendid examples of the Goldsmith's art had left the country.

The announcement made some time afterwards that the sword and mace were in safe keeping in Ireland was learned with much satisfaction. The articles are in the possession of Mr. Louis Vine, the well-known Dublin art dealer and he has offered to restore them to the Galway Urban Council if he gets anything near the price he paid for them.

Miss Annie Blake, daughter of the last Lord Mayor of Galway from whom the sword and Mace were purchased by Mr. Vine has offered to give a donation of £500 towards any fund raised to restore the Sword and Mace to the Urban Council. The latter is strangely apathetic in the matter and has not even approached Mr. Vine who is quite anxious to hand over the articles to the Urban Council if he gets the money he paid for them. The suggestion has been made that a public subscription should be raised to purchase the articles. It is feared that very little money would be realized in this way.

It was suggested in these columns some time ago that deputations from the public bodies in the county should wait on the responsible Minister of the Government to urge Governmental action by advancing the necessary money to recover the articles and have them safely lodged in the National Museum.

This would appear to be the only thing to do. Mr. Vine is essentially a business man and he cannot keep the articles indefinitely on his hands.

There is an extraordinary demand for gold and silver just now. It will be to the everlasting disgrace of the Council if these beautiful emblems of old Galway should find their way into the melting pot. And the danger of this is very real. Immediate action is absolutely necessary.