It’s a long way from Kiltoom to Neverland, but local auctioneer Martin Nolan has been charged with overseeing one of the biggest auctions of pop memorabilia in history.
Co-owner of Beverly Hills-based Julien’s Auctions, Martin Nolan from Kiltoom, Athlone, has been employed by Michael Jackson to oversee the sale of the entire contents of his legendary Neverland estate.
Furthermore, Irish fans of the King of Pop will be treated to a world preview of the items, when they go on display in Newbridge Silver’s Museum of Style in Kildare from today.
An array of elaborate stage costumes, an iconic white jewelled glove, hats from the Billy Jean video, and Jackson’s MTV Moon Man award will be among the treasure trove of Neverland memorabilia on display to Irish viewers.
In all, over 2,000 items of memorabilia from the Neverland estate will be up for grabs when the auction opens in Beverly Hills on April 22.
No stranger to high profile paraphernalia, Martin Nolan has previously put the property of John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, and U2 under the hammer. His firm, Julien’s Auctions, has earned the tag ‘Auctioneers to the Stars’.
Mr Nolan was behind the decision to bring the exhibition to Ireland, the only European stop on the King of Pop: A Once in a Lifetime Auction tour. It is expected that die-hard Jackson fans from across Europe will travel to Newbridge to view the items.
The Athlone native took on the responsibility of clearing out and cataloguing the extensive contents of the 2,800 acre Neverland estate in California, which Jackson created in 1988 but to which he has not returned in the last four years since he was acquitted of child molestation charges.
The selection of Jackson’s personal property will be exhibited at Newbridge Silver's Museum of Style in Kildare from today, Friday March 6, until May 2.
