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 / Frank J. Lawless
Photograph of Frank J. Lawless, T.D. in 1922.
postcard / Connolly to Larkin, 1912
Postcard from James Connolly to Jim Larkin. 9 October 1912, referring to a cartoon by Ernest Cavanagh which had been published in the Irish Worker. Addressed to Jim Larkin at Liberty Hall.
hat / Francis Macken, 1916
The bullet pierced green hat worn by Francis Macken as Lieutenent of E. Company, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade, in the General Post Office, 1916. Francis Macken was one of the advance guard who left the building with The O'Rahilly and their two bodies were found together. The dried mud on the hat...
photograph negative / Con Colbert, March 1916
Glass negative of photograph of Con Colbert, taken by William Danaher N.T., Athea, Co. Limerick, in March 1916. Colbert had been a pupil of his.
hat / James Connolly, 1916
A bullet-pierced hat stated to have fallen from James Connolly's head when he was being carried on a stretcher to the Dublin Castle Hospital. It was picked up by one of the ambulance men who were carrying him. Connolly had a corresponding gash in the side of his head. Brown felt material with a...
photograph / Thomas Rafferty, 1916
Postcard photograph of Thomas Rafferty, killed in action at the Battle of Ashbourne in 1916, in costume of the Black Raven Pipers Band, Lusk.
prison art / Rath Internment Camp, 1921
Medal from Rath Internment Camp, 1921. Made from an English halfcrown. Obverse, IRA/FINTAN MURPHY over a heart between two sprays of shamrocks. Around above DIA SAOR EIRE Reverse, NO630/HUT16/"B" COY./1921. Around above, RATH. INT. CAMP with a shamrock at either end. Around below, CURRAGH....
hand-grenade / Dolphin's Barn, 1920
Hand grenade of period 1920 of type made by the I.R.A. Found by Mr M. Boyle in Dolphin's Barn in which area there was an I.R.A. munitions factory. Overall length 3.2 ins. egg shaped. 7" D. screwed opening near top. 1.1" x .7" section broken off and missing from bottom.
indenture / Silk Weavers Guild / Michael Mallin
Indenture of apprenticeship, of Edward Gibson, signed by Michael Mallin. As secretary of Silk Weavers Guild. Framed and glazed. Another copy is EW.397. Most of those who signed this document took part in the Rising, including Gibson.
memoriam card / Sean Treacy, 1920
Memoriam Card for Sean Treacy. Printed with snapshot of Treacy attached.
weapon / Irish Volunteers, 1918
Pikehead made in Belmullet in 1918 by Charles Cawley blacksmith on the order of Michael MacHenry and Martin Moran, Irish Volunteers. One of 144 made by him. Said to have been mounted on scythe or shovel handles. Overall length 11". Plug type with 3.4 ins. shovel handles. Overall length 11". Plug...
photograph / Laurence Ginnell, Argentinia, 1921
Photograph of Laurence Ginnell, taken by J.P. Flynn, leaving the Irish Hall in Salon San Patricio in Rosario de Sante Fe, Argentina, in October 1921. Mr Ginnell visited the Argentine for the purpose of organising public opinion there.
ammunition / Roscommon, ambush
Bullet captured in ambush of Black and Tans in Co. Roscommon, 3.1 ins. long. Marked DA 19/11/V.I. Captured by Mr. D. Madden, Ballagh, Kilrooskey, Co. Roscommon.
prison autograph album / Hunger Strike, Mountjoy & Dundalk, 1917
Autograph album, signed by the IRA members who were on hunger strike in Mountjoy and Dundalk jails, September to November, 1917.
prison art / Mountjoy, 1917
Cross on pyramid made by prisoner in Mountjoy in 1917. Out of a 3" long bullet.
prison spoon / Mountjoy Jail, 1917
Prison spoon, carved from horn, used in Mountjoy Prison in 1917 by Commandant Peter Howley.
leaflet / Stop Press, 28 June 1922
Stop Press, Republican leaflet of 28 June 1922. Dealing with events in the Four Courts.
prison key / Spike Island Prison
Iron door key of Spike Island Prison. Probably War of Independence period.prisoner list / female prisoners, 1916
List of female prisoners, 1916, on Government notepaper, including names, ages and other biographical details. Included are Josephine Plunkett, 58, 26 Upr Fitzgibbon Street; Kathleen Lynn, 42, 9 Belgrave Road; Winifred Carney, 28, 43 Belvidere Pl. Typist National Health...