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Last September, an Irish auction house sold the remaining contents of Howth Castle, County Dublin.
The house dates back to 1180, when it was first constructed, albeit in more primitive form, by the St Lawrence family. Their descendants remained in ownership, and in residence, until four years ago, when the present generation announced the place had been sold to an investment group.
One might imagine that such news would be greeted by widespread dismay; that efforts would have been made to preserve
