'Lincoln' Memorabilia Donated To Wicklow Hospice

Memorabilia from the Oscar-nominated movie "Lincoln" has been donated to a small charity in Co. Wicklow, thanks to its strong connection to star actor Daniel Day Lewis.

White gloves, miniature toy soldiers and Lincoln's handmade knife, which all feature in the box office smash are being given to the Wicklow Hospice Foundation.

Daniel Day Lewis is the official patron of the charity, which is based in the area in which he lives.

Stephen Spielberg and Dreamworks gave permission for the items to be given to the charity for auction at a sell-out gala premiere event in Dublin this week.

The movie has been nominated for Best Picture and Mr Day Lewis for Best Actor at the Academy Aards.

Mr Day-Lewis has donated the proceeds of the only European Premiere of the film to raise funds towards building a hospice facility in Co. Wicklow.

Foundation chairman Brendan Cuddihy said the auction of the memorabilia has sparked considerable interest from the US.

"Props of this quality never come on the market and are closely protected by movie studios," he said.

"Now that Lincoln is hotly tipped to scoop multi-Academy awards, we're being told the value is even higher."

The movie premiere will be attended by Mr Day Lewis, director Stephen Spielberg and a host of Irish celebrities.

U2's Bono and The Edge, singer Sinead O'Connor, Chris De Burgh, and gold medallist Katie Taylor are among those on the guest list.

Guests will be greeted on the red carpet by the Irish president Michael D Higgins and 900 invited guests will attend a gala ball at the Burlington Hotel later.

Tickets for the event are €1,600 for a table of ten, and organisers say they could sell the venue out twice over, such is the interest in the event.

Three million euro is needed to build the new hospital, and the people of Wicklow have raised €2.4m already.

At the moment, people living in Wicklow must travel outside the county for respite and end of life care.

Mr Day Lewis became involved in the charity in 2009 after his mother was cared for in an English hospice at the end of her life.

He became passionate about having one built in the area which he calls home when not filming.

It's hoped the Lincoln gala will raise a six figure sum for the charity.