Historical Collections Online
Search our Historical Collections Online, a sample of 10,000 artefacts from the National Museum of Ireland’s Historical, Military and Easter Week Collections, published as part of the Decade of Commemorations.
photograph / Douglas Hyde, inauguration, 1938
P.J. Little, Oscar Traynor and Wives at Aras an Uachtarain at the 1937 inauguration. Irish Press photograph. One of a collection of inauguration photographs, taken at Aras an Uachtarain. Douglas Hyde was inaugurated as President of Ireland on 26 June 1938, the first inauguration of a President in...
photograph / Douglas Hyde, inauguration, 1938
Inauguration of Douglas Hyde as President 1937. Irish Press f.p. photo of crowd showing inter al. seated in front row Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, Seán McEntee, Frank Aiken, Oscar Traynor, P.J. Little and in second row, James Ryan. One of a collection of inauguration photographs, taken at Aras an...
plaque / City of San Francisco / de Valera, 1919
Rectangular presentation plaque, gold. Engraved 'Presented to Eamon de Valera, President of the Irish Republic. The Mayor and the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco and by the Citizens thereof, as an expression of our esteem of his service in the cause of Irish Freedom....
ceremonial key / City of Allentown / de Valera
Ceremonial key presented to de Valera as the Freedom of the City of Allentown, Pennsylvania. "Presented by Ray B. Bracy Mayor".Plaque in presentation box states "Eamon de Valera, President of Ireland". Housed in a hinged box with black leather cover. Lined with red velvet on base, and white satin...
box / City of Los Angeles / de Valera
Ceremonial key presented to the "Hon. Eamon de Valera from the City of Los Angeles, Founded 1781". Mounted on a wooden plaque or stand. Gold plaque attached to stand, engraved - "To Honorable Eamon de Valera, President of Ireland. From Samuel Wm. Yorty, Mayor, City of Los Angeles". Housed in a...
ceremonial key / City of Chicago / O Ceallaigh, 1939
Ceremonial key, steel, presented by Edward J. Kelly, Mayor of Chicago, to the Sean T. O Ceallaigh, Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland on his visit to Chicago attending the International Irish Congress, 21 May 1939.
box / City of Worcester / de Valera
Ceremonial key - Freedom of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Housed in cream, marbled effect box. Crest on hinged lid. Legends reads as inscription.
box / City of Pittsburgh / de Valera
Ceremonial key - Freedom of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Presented to Éamon de Valera, c. 1974. Of gold-coloured metal, housed in a box with hinged lid; covered and lined with blue velvet.
box / City of Buffalo / de Valera
Ceremonial key - Freedom of the City of Buffalo. With the Seal of the City of Buffalo. Presented by Mayor Frank A. Sedita. Engraved on the stem and on the disc-shaped handle as above, with a seascape depicted in centre. Housed in a white cardboard box with lid.
seal impression / Treasury of Ireland / de Valera
Oval-shaped wax seal impression, red wax. Crest/shield in centre surmounted by crown. Legend around shield reads - "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense". Banner under this reads - "Treasury of Ireland". Attached to a piece of square card. Held in small blue, hinged box, not original.
ceremonial key / City of San Diego / de Valera
Ceremonial key - Freedom of the City of San Diego, California. Blue enamel circular band reads 'City of San Diego, Calif' and 'Semper Vigilans'. Engraved 'Mayor Frank Curran' on the stem. Could also be worn as a pendant. Engraved on the stem and on the disc-shaped handle as above, with shield in...
box / City of Worcester / de Valera
Ceremonial key - Freedom of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Housed in a box with hinged lid, covered with wine coloured leather. Lined on base with black velvet. Lined on lid with cream, satin and with text - "The Honourable Paul V. Mullaney, Mayor"; also a crest or emblem with legend...
papal honour / Pope Pius IX / de Valera
Papal honour from Pope Pius IX. Consists of a sash of petersham with blue and red vertical bands. Ends in a bow and from this hangs one of the medallions or pendants (attached to a bow) of brass with eight-pointed blue enamel star affixed to the point of it. Disc placed centrally on top of this...papal honour / Pope Pius IX / de Valera
Papal honour from Pope Pius IX. Consists of a sash of petersham with blue and red vertical bands. Ends in a bow and from this hangs one of the medallions or pendants (attached to a bow) of brass with eight-pointed blue enamel star affixed to the point of it. Disc placed centrally on top of this...
presentation key / William Cosgrave / Atlantic City
Presentation key, Atlantic City. Made by Tiffany & Co, “Presented to William T. Cosgrave, President of the Irish Free State by his Fellow Members of the St. Patrick Society of Brooklyn, February 3, 1928”. Silver gilt.
commemorative medal / William Cosgrave / St. Patrick Society of Brooklyn
Commemorative medal in gold, sunburst shaped with the image of St. Patrick in the centre, and the inscription below, 'Organised 1850'. Inscribed on the back is 'Presented to William T. Cosgrave / President of the Irish Free State / By his fellow members of the / St. Patrick Society of Brooklyn /...
War of Independence Service Medal, Active / Philip Cosgrave
War of Independence Service Medal, with active service bar ('Comhrac'). Engraved ‘No. 991, Philip Cosgrave” on the reverse. With ribbon bar in box.
1916 Medal / Philip Cosgrave
1916 Service Medal, engraved ‘No. 375, Philip Cosgrave’. With ribbon bar in box.
presentation cup / William Cosgrave, Taoiseach
Large silver presentation cup with two smaller cups in Neo Celtic style, on stand. Made by Weir & Sons, Dublin. Inscribed “Fuireann Failte de Muinntir At Cliat do bronn mise ar Liam T. Mac Cosgair, Uactaran na Naisiun in Geneba mar ar cead glacad Eire ina ball den cumann. 10.IX.1923”. Dublin.