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.
shell (ammunition) / WWI
World War 1 shell, fuse missing, no inscriptions. Probably a dummy made as an example, i.e. no fuse or explosive was inserted.
helmet / European trooper, 17th century
Helmet, 17th c. European trooper’s style. Iron.
hat / Other Rank’s busby of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers c.1910
Busby, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Other rank’s black racoon skin fur busby of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers c.1910. The badge is in the form of a brass grenade with the Castle of Enniskillen on the centre and Inniskilling on the circular belt. On the left side a grey hackle. The chin chain is...
bayonet / 1916 Rising
Homemade bayonet, iron, engraved ‘27R 1770’, probably 1916 Rising period. Blade curved at base to hilt, welded.
flask / 69th Regiment, New York Volunteers, c.1900
69th Regiment water bottle. Water bottle of the 69th Regiment, New York Volunteers, c.1900.
shield / Major General Sean Mac Eoin, 1962
Ethiopian War dress headdress and shield presented to Major General Sean Mac Eoin in 1962. Presented by the Ethiopian Tekil Brigade in Stanleyvillie, Congo, 5th March 1962.
ration card / Bridget White, 1948
Ration card for Monument Creameries Butter, card no. 1364. For the year 1948. Filled in from January to May 1948. Belonged to Miss Bridget White of 100 Lower Dorset Street., Dublin.
ration book / Bridget White, 1941
Ration book (fuel) of Miss Bridget White of 100 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin. Unused. Serial number 80711. Dated 1941. Miss Bridget White was the aunt of the donor.
pay book / Peter Cleary, 1940
Army Book 64 Soldiers Service & Pay book: Peter Cleary 7077261, Enlisted Belfast 5 February 1940. British Army.
blast door / Beehive, WW II
Bomb / Air Raid Shelter, or beehive. 1939 (World War II). Beehive type air raid shelter, 1939. Concrete. Found in situ behind Cobh Customs House, Co. Cork. Door to the front, escape hatch to the back. The separate blast wall belongs in front of the door. One metal chain hangs from the inside wall....
handkerchief escape map / Royal Air Force Coastal Command, Captain R.T. Taaffe
Escape map on silk handkerchief. Of Group Captain R.T. Taaffe (17211), Royal Air Force Coastal Command, World War II. Material relating to Group Captain R.T. Taaffe (17211), Royal Air Force Coastal Command, World War II. 21 / 6 / 1901 - 9 / 2 / 1985. Born in Co. Louth. C) 4 silk handkerchiefs...
identity tags / Royal Air Force Coastal Command,Captain R.T. Taaffe, WWII
Identity tags of Captain R.T. Taaffe of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command, World War II. Material relating to Group Captain R.T. Taaffe (17211), Royal Air Force Coastal Command, World War II. 21 / 6 / 1901 - 9 / 2 / 1985. Born in Co. Louth. D) Set of two identity tags (dog tags) belonging to...
semi-automatic rifle / Marita Ann, 1984
Armalite AR180 rifle, serial number 11270, taken from the Marita Ann. Made by HOW of Japan, calibre 5.56mm.
dummy rifle / Irish Volunteers
Dummy rifle, wooden cut out; 45' in length. Probably used for drilling exercises by the Irish Volunteers, pre 1916. 110cm in length, the initials 'E Mc' carved into the butt.
certificate / Corporal R.J. Bruton, Burma, WWII
Certificate granting permission to Corporal R.J. Bruton, no. 14423195, of the 1st Northampton, to hold a Japanese sword, taken in Burma during World War II, as a personal souvenir. Issued by HQ Allied Land Forces, Sea. No. 30271/10/SDI (b). Dated 22 August 1946.
handgun /
Revolver, .455. Webley and Scott model MK IV. Serial number 717101. Marked 'RIC 93'.
handgun /
Revolver, .38/200. Webley and Scott Mk III. Serial number 22948. Marked 'RIC 176'.
gun / Lord Gough
Section of a cannon cart big gun, one of the Lord Gough guns. Broken off and stored separately in 1921. Three Indian field guns and two limbers "taken at the Battles of Mahrajpore and Sobraon during the Sikh Wars, and presented to Field Marshal, the late Lord Viscount Gough, K.P., G.C.B.,...
scabbard / Irish Yeomanry, Porter
One of two swords, Irish Yeomanry, with scabbards. Formerly belonged to Porter, figured in Wheatley’s picture, College Green, in National Gallery. Marked 'Dawes BIRMm' (Birmingham).