Northern Ireland

James Craig's walking stick sells for £10,000 at auction

Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions in east Belfast, with a walking stick belonging to Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister, James Craig
Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions in east Belfast, with a walking stick belonging to Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister, James Craig Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions in east Belfast, with a walking stick belonging to Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister, James Craig

A walking stick once owned by Northern Ireland’s first prime minister has sold for £10,000 at an auction in Belfast.

Karl Bennett at Bloomfield Auctions described the aid once used by James Craig as the “star lot” of today's sale.

The walking stick is made from blackthorn wood with a silver collar to commemorate Craig’s first public visit to Lurgan in 1925.

Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, James Craig, centre, and members of his cabinet in London in November 1921 while the Treaty negotiations were taking place
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, James Craig, centre, and members of his cabinet in London in November 1921 while the Treaty negotiations were taking place Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, James Craig, centre, and members of his cabinet in London in November 1921 while the Treaty negotiations were taking place

While it had been expected to sell for between £4,000 and £5,000, significant interest in the item saw bidding in the room, online and by phone reach £10,000.

The successful buyer was an online bidder.

The auction house said the walking stick was bought by a private collector in England a few years ago for approximately £30.

Earlier this month a walking stick which once belonged to Irish republican leader Michael Collins sold for more than £50,000.

Mr Craig was a leading unionist figure and opposed to home rule. He became the first prime minister of Northern Ireland in 1921 and served for nearly 20 years until his death in November 1940.