clip (arms equipment) / Executions, Kilmainham, 1916

Cases of bullets, in clip, which were used in the executions of the 1916 Leaders. Five empty cartridge cases stated to have been the actual cases from which the bullets were fired which cut short the lives of Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas J. Clarke, the first three of the signatories who were shot by order of Field General Courtmartial on Wednesday morning, 3 May 1916. The cartridge cases were with special instructions, entrusted to the care of Mary T. McKenna by her brother, the late Doctor Harry McKenna of Ballylinan who was M.O. of the old 5th Batt., Carlow Brigade. The late Doctor McKenna acted as a Sinn Féin magistrate during the Anglo-Irish War and could always be depended on, sometimes at great personal risk, to treat ill and wounded men, even from other areas.;