Cigarette Box

"This is a silver cigarette box that saved my maternal great- grandfather’s life. His name was Macca Powell, and he was the CEO of Mangan Jewellers in Saint Patrick’s Street, Cork. In 1920, my great-grandfather was chased though the store by the Black and Tans. He was shot at by them, and at one stage they shot at his heart, but he had a silver cigarette box inside his waistcoat, and the bullets hit the box instead of him and saved his life. A rare case where cigarettes are good for you! I’m also holding a picture of Macca’s grandson, Ronnie (my father), on the roof garden of Mangan’s where he lived up to the age of 10 years."