Painting of Cairncastle church expected to fetch £1000 at auction

The piece, by Royal Ulster Academician James Macintyre, is expected to realise £1000.

The County Antrim painter and sculptor wrote Three Men on An Island, an account of six weeks on Inishlacken with celebrated Belfast artists Gerard Dillon and George Campbell.

The church is known for its many historic links, with the east window made by Franz Mayer & Co, who were stained glass artists to the Holy See.

Meanwhile, the font in the baptistry was used by Dean Swift when he was incumbent of Ballynure in 1695.

The Armada Tree that until recently stood in the graveyard was a Spanish Sweet Chestnut, scientifically dated to the 16th Century and reputedly marking the grave of a Spanish sailor swept up on the shore at Ballygally in 1588.

Further information can be obtained by e-mailing Daniel Clarke on [email protected].