Demonstrators gathered at John Adam`s Auctioneers in Dublin, concerned that historical items would be snapped up by foreign buyers.

Two members of Ogra Sinn Féin then disrupted the auction of historical memorabilia taking place in Dublin today to coincide with the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

A total of 450 items are being put on sale in the auction, including the first known version of the national anthem and the tricolour that flew over the GPO during the Rising.

The two Ogra Sinn Féin members managed to infiltrate the crowd at the auction and shouted “Irish history should not be for sale” as one of the items was sold.

They were later bundled out of the building by gardaí, who were subsequently set upon by more republican demonstrators as they tried to put the pair in a squad car.

Posted: 04|12|06 at 2:45 pm. Filed under: Auction News.