Michael Jackson's silk pijamas and mahogany bed sold at auction

A set of silk pyjamas and a bed in which Michael Jackson once slept have been sold at an Irish auction for a total of 8,900 euros ($12,300).

^{Michael Jackson while was interviewed at Coolatore House in November 2006}

An American entertainment company bought the pyjamas for 2,700 euros ($3,700). The carved mahogany bed was sold to an undisclosed Irish bidder for $8,600 on Monday.

He and his children were there for several months while he recorded at Grouse Lodge studios in 2006.

He was seen in the area with his family at the time, visiting the cinema and at the bowling alley.

Auctioneer Damien Matthews of Matthews Auction Rooms said Michael Jackson said that he had never slept better in his life than he did at Coolatore.

"When he was leaving, he left his hat and his pyjamas as a gift. He told the owners of the house that he had had a marvellous time and that Coolatore was the only place where they had ever felt like a real family," Mr Matthews said.

He said that following his time at Coolatore, the house's owners had become close friends of Michael Jackson and had travelled with him.

Mr Matthews said many of the items sold at the auction on Monday made two or three times the normal price because of the connection with Michael Jackson.

The mahogany bed will remain in Ireland as it was sold to an undisclosed Irish bidder for 6,200 euros. It would normally have made up to 800 euros.

MJFS - BBC - AP