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.
internment order / Ballykinlar, 1921
Ballykinlar internment order, 1921. Framed and glazed form served on donor's father, Walsh (author of 'On Their Keeping' etc.) on 5 January 1921, signed by Lt. D.A.G. Cook of The Black Watch.
letter / Frongoch Camp, 1916
Frongoch letter, dated 21 December 1916, from Henry Kenny in Hut 17, to his cousin Hubert with sketch of tricolour at top, with 'A Merry Xmas to All from Frongoch'.
postcard / Lewes Jail, 1916
Greeting card with poem "The Toast" composed by J. Etchingham in Lewes Jail. Depicting the Irish tricolour flag. Published by permission S O h-E. In commemoration of Easter 1916.
book / Legends of Saints and Sinners, 1915
'Legends of Saints and Sinners' collated and translated from the Irish by Douglas Hyde, L.L.D., D. Litt., with illustrations by Noel L. Nisbet. Published by the Talbot Press, Ltd., Dublin and Cork, c. 1915. Given by Hyde to Mr P. Morrisroe.
book / Songs of Columcille, 1942
Book, 'Songs of Columcille', by Douglas Hyde, 1942. Signed in Irish on the inside front page as being from 'Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland, Christmas 1942'. Cover design by Una Hyde (Mrs Seely). Printed at The Talbot Press, Dublin, 1942.photograph / Eamon de Valera, c. 1939
Mounted photograph of Eamon de Valera c.1939 with Mrs. Kane at Aras an Uachtaráin. She was Hyde's sister and acted as his hostess at functions in the Aras.
rifle / Dublin Castle, 1916 Rising
A Lee Enfield Rifle used by a member of a British Army regiment during the attack on Dublin Castle, Easter Monday, April 24, 1916. Note how the barrel of the rifle was shattered by an Irish Volunteer's bullet. Short Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle Mark III. Adopted by the British Army in 1907. It was...
photograph / de Valera, Princess Grace Kelly, c. 1961
Black and white photograph of Eamon de Valera with Princess Grace Kelly and two of her children c. 1961.
card / Portlaoise Prison, 1922
Handmade Christmas card from Portlaoise Prison, 1922 from the brother of the donor, Mary Kearns.
commemorative medal / Fianna Éireann Golden Jubilee 1909-1959
Fianna Jubilee medal 1959 and ribbon which belonged to donor's husband, John Birmingham, who had been in Jacobs with A.Coy 3rd Battalion. Small commemorative medal, copper, blue and yellow ribbon, bar with Celtic design. Obverse reads "Fianna Éireann", reverse reads "Golden Jubilee 1909-1959".
prison art / Republican, c. 1920
Republican Prisoner of War work c. 1920. 12" x 14" overall. Picture frame, decorated in cut and coloured cork on wooden base, exhibiting a glazed photograph of a young lady.
resource / Ballykinlar, 1920/21
Ballykinlar Camp autograph album. Xeroxcopy of an album kept in Ballykinlar, 1920 and 1921, No. 1 Camp, including entries by Joe McGrath, Alec MacCabe and Peadar Ó Cearnaigh.
waistcoat / Liam Mellows
A cardigan waistcoat jacket which belonged to Liam Mellows, during the days when he was known as "O.C. Britain". Liam gave it to William McMahon at the latter's residence, 3 Pine Grove, Victoria Park Manchester. William McMahon was one of the principal agents in effecting the sensational escape of...
pin badge / Feis Thir Chonaill, c.1905
Feis Thir Chonaill c. 1905. Celluloid pin badge with above legend printed black on white around a reproduction of a photograph of a cleric.
letter / Frank Cunnane , 1923
Last letter of Frank Cunnane 2 pages written to his mother from Galway Jail, 10 April 1923, on the eve of his execution.
knife (weapon) / Liam Mellows
A dagger made to a design of Liam Mellows. It was made by James Lynam, a Fenian Blacksmith of Athlone. The idea was that it could be used as a "sgian dubh" which could be carried in the stocking of the Fianna Éireann uniform. Liam gave it to Mr C.G. Seavers, when the latter got the first pair of...
souvenir / Noel Lemass
Noel Lemass memento. A German coin (10 pfennig, 1900). It was given to Mr C. G. Seavers by Noel Lemass when they both shared the same cell in Richmond Barracks, 1916. Noel Lemass on the same occasion carved both names on a 1 1b. Bully beef tin which he gave to donor.
poem / Lewes Jail, 1917
Lewes Jail. "Duanaire na Macaomh", a collection of Irish poetry edited by Tomás Ó Flannghaile and autographed by 121 Irish Prisoners in Lewes Jail in May 1917. All the names are in Irish and they are entered on the pages which corresponded to their prison numbers. In addition to the names and...
card / Patrick Clare , Christmas 1906 / Michael Davitt
Postcard. Christmas card. 'Christmas 1906'. With picture of and quote by Michael Davitt, and the motto 'God Save Ireland'. One of a collection of photographs and postcards belonging / relating to Patrick Clare. Part of a collection of material belonging / relating to Patrick Clare, Irish...