A Letterkenny book and record shop is trying to establish whether a work signed by Irish revolutionary Michael Collins has fallen into its lap.

The autograph was discovered inside a copy of ‘Na Rosa go brátac’ by owner of Universal Books David Faughnan. It was part of a collection held by the late Fr Patrick McGoldrick prior to his death last December.

David said that while he can’t be sure of its authenticity, given where the book came from it could well be a treasured find.

“If this book had come from anyone else I would have set it aside. But the fact that it came from Fr McGoldrick, that makes it very interesting,” David Faughnan said.

Fr Patrick McGoldrick was the son of Patrick J McGoldrick, a prominent political figure around the time of the 1916 Rising. He was elected as a Sinn Féin TD for Donegal to the second Dáil at the 1921 elections and then elected unopposed as a pro-Treaty Sinn Féin TD at the 1922 general election.

According to Editor of the Donegal Annual, Sean Beattie, it would not therefore be unbelievable that Mr McGoldrick’s son would have in his possession a book signed by Michael Collins.

“McGoldrick was very prominent during the War of Independence and he would have known all these key figures and would have been in personal contact with the likes of Michael Collins,” said Sean.

The big stumbling block is the book’s date. According to the inside pages the copy of Na Rosa go brátac that has come into the possession of Universal Books was printed in 1939 – 17 years after Collins was assassinated.

Given though that the McGoldrick collection has already thrown up two first edition Michael Collins works as well as a book signed by War of Independence-era IRA volunteer and Fianna Fáil TD Dan Breen, the quest for answers continues.

“As I’ve said if this was from anyone else I would have let it go. But the provenance is there,” book shop owner David said.

Michael Collins memorabilia has always been sought after by collectors. As recently as September a walking stick he reputedly owned sold at auction for over €60,000 – more than five times its estimate. And with next year marking 100 years since his death, a renewed interest in his life, work and belongings is guaranteed.

“I’ve had three offers from buyers already,” said David Faughnan.

“But I can’t sell it without finding out for sure if it is Michael Collins’s signature. If there is anyone out there who can help us, we’d love to hear from them.

“Or if there is a Michael Collins out there in The Rosses well we have your book.”