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.
flag / Helga
Centre-piece ensign of TSS. 'Helga', British gunship, 1916 Rising. White hop-sack cloth (wool), diameter 22'. In the centre a yellow harp with eight white strings, on background on blue circle, surrounded by interweaving branches of shamrock, in green, which in turn are encircled by thin blue line.
flag / The Plough and the Stars
Flag of the Irish Citizen Army, 1914. 'The Starry Plough' or 'The Plough and the Stars'. Made in the first part of 1914. Stated by Sean O'Casey to have been made by the Dun Emer Guild The Irish Citizen Army flag was flown over the Imperial Hotel during the 1916 Rising. It was taken as a souvenir,...
flag / 3rd Aughrim Wicklow Volunteers flag
Flag of the Aughrim Irish Volunteers, 1914. Designed by The O'Rahilly and presented to the unit by John Redmond. The flag is of green poplin and was made by Crotty's of Grafton Street, Dublin and is 44 by 31 inches. In the top left hand corner on a maroon rectangle 15 by 16 inches are crossed...
flag / Ancient Order of Hibernians (Irish American Alliance), 1910
Banner of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Irish American Alliance), about 1910. Poplin cloth. On one side the harp between sprays of shamrock beneath 'A.O.H.' (all painted) over a ribbon of satin applique on which is painted CLAN-NA-GAEL. This ribbon is covering an earlier painting on the cloth....
banner / Irish Republic, GPO, 1916
The Irish Republic flag which flew over the GPO in 1916. Green poplin cloth with the letters IRISH REPUBLIC painted in white and gold (vertical) on both sides. A large segment torn off one side leaving the lettering incomplete. This flag flew from the Princes Street corner of the GPO from Easter...
flag / Liberty Hall, 1916 Rising
Remains of the flag from Liberty Hall, 1916. Charred remains of green flag with harp applied centrepiece. Taken by Colonel H. Carter, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, from Liberty Hall after the 1916 Rising. The Liberty Hall flag was raised on Easter Sunday by Molly O'Reilly, aged 15.
banner / Bolands Mills, alleged, 1916
Flag alleged to have been at Bolands Mill in 1916. Given to Mr P. Ward by the son-in-law of 2nd Lt. Andrew Balfour Cumming (Black Watch, Royal Highlanders). Cumming had been one of the troops guarding de Valera after the surrender in 1916. The flag, however, almost certainly did not fly over...
flag / Michael Collins
Flag which draped Michael Collins' body on the journey from Cork to Shanakill Hospital after his fatal wounding at Béal na mBlath. 6' x 4' white field with Red Cross in centre. The father of the donor, a Mr Connolly, was one of the ambulance crew.
banner / Sarsfield banner, 1915
One of the flags carried the muzzles of rifles at the farewell parade to Robert Monteith. Limerick 1915. Flag/banner, green background, tassled border, with scene painted in the centre. Depicts man on horse back in military costume, holding sword in the air. The horse is white and in full gallop....
flag / General Post Office, 1916 Rising
Fragment of woollen textile, originally from the white coloured portion of the tricolour flag that flew over the General Post Office during the 1916 Rising.
flag / Four Courts, 1916
Flag flown over The Four Courts, Dublin, during the 1916 Rising. Taken on 30th April 1916. Green field with yellow harp.
flag / Boland's Mill Garrison, 1916
A fragment of flag which flew over Boland's Mills during Easter Week. the flag was originally a green field with a gold harp. Consisting of a strip of green woollen cloth. The Boland's Mills flag was flown from the turret of the distillery in the complex of buildings to distract attention from the...
flag / Marrowbone Lane, 1916
Flag flown by the Irish Forces at Marrowbone Lane Distillery Dublin during Easter Week, 1916. Gold harp on green field.
flag / R.A.M.C., 1916 Rising
Red Cross flag of the Royal Army Medical Corps (British Army) used with a Guinness lorry during the 1916 Rising in Dublin city to transport the injured to hospitals, and at Portobello Barracks. The donor, James Geoghan, served with the above unit and was in charge of the burial and disinternment of...
flag / Fianna Éireann, B Company
Flag of B Company, Fianna Éireann. Organised by Liam Mellows. Liam Mellows was the first captain, followed by Con Colbert. The flag designed by Colbert in 1915. Lettering was in gold. In a blue field 'Fianna Éireann' over a yellow rayed sunburst enclosing Company/B. The reverse has a plain yellow...
tricolour / Mendicity Institute, 1916
Tricolour flag, ex Mendicity Institute, 1916. Flag of green, white and orange (or orange white and green) arranged horizontally. Received in the Mendicity Institute Dublin immediately after the surrender in Easter Week 1916 by the father of Reverand M. L. Ferrar,- a medical officer who had been...
flag / John Daly, Limerick
John Daly's flag, Limerick. Flag, green cloth 89 inches by 55 inches approximately, with a centre-piece consisting of harp with five strings, made up of green, white and yellow cloth. On one corner of flag is stitched a white envelope on which is handwritten in ink the following - 'This flag was...
guidon / Tullamore True Blue Rangers c. 1780
Flag or guidon of the Tullamore True Blue Rangers c. 1780. Embroidered silk with fringe and tassels. In the body of the flag on the right side (white silk) a mounted volunteer, a sabre in his right hand. Around above, TULLAMORE TRUE BLUE RANGERS. All within a shamrock border. On the left side...
banner / Kilkenny Yeomanry Cavalry flag
Flag of the Kilkenny Yeomanry Cavalry, possibly 19th century. Wine or red in colour with gold tassles on all edges. Central inscription reads "Kilkenny Yoemanry Cavalry" under a crowned harp. The pole tie is to the left.