Irish Pickers

Dublin dealer Ian is searching for treasures in Ireland’s largest county. Discoveries include a mysterious stone head and a carving of a famous figure from Irish mythology.

It’s off to County Kerry, as dealer Ian Dowling calls in at Curran’s pub in Dingle, sees local celebrity Fungi the Dolphin and visits the Kerry Bog village.

Ian and Butzy drop in on Killeneure Castle, before rock 'n' rolling to Limerick City to see pop memorabilia from U2 and Thin Lizzy.

Ian is searching for a very special antique for a friend and contact in the US - celebrity tattooist Mark Mahoney, whose clients include Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.

The Irish Pickers are in the very west of Ireland in County Mayo, visiting an antiques and rare bookstore run by Roger Grimes in the small town of Mulranny. Ian spends more than a penny on an antique toilet bowl, and he’s tempted by an ancient treasure chest possibly left behind from the time of the Spanish Armada. After a spot of fishing at Clew Bay the lads head to a pub in Swinford where, bizarrely, there’s a framed print promoting abstinence, but can Ian spirit up the cash to buy this unique piece? The final stop off is at Charlestown at an antiques shop where Ian discovers some fascinating political memorabilia.

The boys’ first buying trip today is on his home turf of Dublin, where they visit some old contacts in the antiques corner of the capital and cut some great deals. Ian sells an antique clock to one of Ireland’s oldest pubs, the Brazen Head, where he turns over a profit of €325 in less than a couple of hours. Ian and Butzy then journey to Waterford to a salvage yard situated on the striking coastline of the Celtic Sea. There are remarkable discoveries made at this remote location including a €10,000 portrait and a pulpit that the Rev Ian Paisley reputedly preached from. And in Waterford there’s the county’s world-famous crystal to bid on at a busy auction. Back at Mulligans office manager Ali researches some of Ian’s best buys.

it’s an exciting week for Ian and Butzy as they cross the Irish Sea to the north of England to invest in mid-20th Century vintage and retro furniture which is much more plentiful in the UK and cheaper than in Ireland. Office manager Ali packs them off on the ferry and the lads set off on a buying spree around Manchester and Liverpool. Ian is on a roll at Pear Mill Antiques in Stockport where his current fashion trend blends in with 1970s gear to be found at the retail outlet. At Nic Nacs in Warrington it’s a Victorian set of prison doors that takes his fancy and Ian feels it would be criminal to return without them to Ireland. But it’s Vintage Vinny’s contact at In Situ in the heart of Manchester where he really splashes out on some extraordinary items. And there’s one place the lads are determined not to miss on their trip to the UK - Old Trafford, home of Manchester United… where they pay homage to footballing legends and one of Ireland’s home-grown greats – George Best.

The lads are in Northern Ireland, and kick off in the capital city, Belfast, home to the shipyard Harland and Wolff, which built one of history’s most famous ocean liners, the doomed SS Titanic. Ian finds a shop that has a treasure trove of maritime memorabilia. Next stop is an auction south of the border in Cavan where he bids for some turnstiles from the famous Dublin stadium Croke Park. Office manager Ali sends them back off to Ulster to a replica of a 19th Century thatched house where Ian is in awe of the recreation of a traditional rural Irish home.

Top Dublin dealer Ian Dowling and his mate Butzy head south of Dublin to County Wexford and three picking locations. In Wexford town they visit theSky and The Ground pub where hoarder Landlord Johnny Baron’s wife Nuala thinks it’s time for a clear-out of her husband’s cluttered attic. At Loch Garman antiques the boys meet up with owner William Plummer, who’s recently opened his doors to the public and Ian is the first dealer through the door. The guys then pay a visit to Neville’s garage in the heart of the Wexford countryside, showing Ian an amazing collection of 100 years of motoring history built up by three generations of Greg Neville’s family.

Ian and Butzy make a trip across the Irish Midlands towards County Galway. They attend an auction which is selling fittings from the 1914 cruise ship Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, the original bar is listed at €300,000! At Castle Ellen, an old stately home near Athenry in County Galway, Ian works hard to prize away objects from profuse collector Michael Keaney. Michael wants to hold on to his collection, but his daughter Deirdre is keen for Ian to buy as much as possible. At Dartfield House – an equestrian centre specializing in Connemara Ponies - Ian tries to land deals on some equine art but manager Dorothy Leahy is slow to release the reins on her favourite pieces. After much haggling deals are done and Ian has a nerve-jangling ride around the paddock on one of the centre’s resident ponies.