The Government is being urged to purchase a unique 1916 artefact which goes up for auction today.

Padraig Pearse’s handwritten surrender letter goes under the hammer this evening in Dublin.

It is feared it may be snapped up by a foreign buyer, and be taken out of the country.

The letter is expected to fetch between €1m and €1.5m, but the Government says it cannot afford to buy it.

Stuart Cole of Adam’s auctioneers says it is a unique document.

Mr Cole said: “It is the last official act of Pearse before he is shot three days later.

“It has been widely described by most historians as one of the most historic documents of the period.”