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.