The Irish auctioneer to the stars

Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Sinatra - you name 'em, Martin Nolan's sold their stuff

Bringing the stars of "Dallas" to mom

Nolan, who grew up in a small rural town, has brought home many a surprise to his mother.

On one particular visit back home his mother couldn't believe that sitting in her living room, drinking her Barry’s tea and eating her homemade brown bread, was Larry Hagman and Linda Grey -- better know, to Mrs. Nolan as J.R. and Sue Ellen Ewing from “Dallas,” a program that she and her son used to watch on their ever so modest television set when he was a young fella.

“They all stay in my mother’s house,” laughs Nolan, as if it all sounds so surreal.   

“‘Dallas’ was so huge when we were growing up. Did she ever think that Linda Grey would be sitting at one side of her and Larry Hagman sitting on her other side? Now she is just wondering who next I will drag in,” he said laughing more. 

“They (the stars) love it because they get a sense of what real Ireland is about. No one bothers them. We don’t make any fuss,” he added. 

Humble beginnings

Nolan has developed long and solid friendships with actors, movie stars and rock stars. After the business of auctioning off certain memorabilia is taken care of, friendships develop and Nolan and Julien find themselves living the high life in Hollywood.

"I'm by far the most unlikeliest person that you would ever think would be hanging out with the stars," he laughs again.

After finishing his leaving certificate in Ireland, Nolan worked for a few years in the public sector. He then took a year out to travel Australia in 1988.

Upon returning he discovered he had won a green card in the Donnelly visa program, so he packed a bag and said he'd give the land of American dreams a go.

He began his life in New York as a doorman, bellboy and front desk clerk at the Hilton Hotel and Towers in Manhattan. After a few years of luggage lifting and door holding, Nolan decided to try his hand at the stock market. It was where the money seemed to be.

During his time training as a broker he became friends with Darren Julien, a young aspiring businessman from Indiana who owned a little auction house business.

In 2005 Julian asked his Irish buddy to come on board, and Nolan agreed. He left a great job at Merrill Lynch to pursue a job that promised fun and adventure. And he certainly wasn’t disappointed.  

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Nster.com