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.
medal / Count George Noble Plunkett
Medals of Count George Noble Plunkett. War of Independence medal, Parnell Medal, and two Papal medals, one with black sash.
rifle / Battle of Ashbourne, 1916
RIC carbine rifle. Captured from R.I.C. by Irish Volunteers at the Battle of Ashbourne, 1916. Captured from Royal Irish Constabulary by Irish Volunteer Joseph Lawless at the Battle of Ashbourne, 1916. Events detailed in his witness statement to the Bureau of Military History. A brass plaque added...
armband / Georgious Rex Volunteers, 1916
Armlet of the Officer's Training Corps, T.C.D., 1916. This force defended Trinity College Dublin during the 1916 Rising. Red flannel armlet with letters 'G.R.' in black, sewn on. 'G.R.' denotes the Georgious Rex Volunteers. On the back, written in ink, is 'OTC, T.C.D. 1916' (Officer Training Coprs...
tunic / Captain Robert de Coure, I.C.A., 1916
Irish Citizen Army uniform tunic. Worn in the Royal College of Surgeons,Easter Week 1916, by Captain Robert de Coure. Dark green serge wool fabric with dark green leather buttons - five down the front of the tunic and one on each pocket flap (four), and on shoulder epaulettes (two).
belt / Captain Robert de Coure, I.C.A., 1916
Belt of an Irish Citizen Army Uniform; Royal College of Surgeons, Easter Week 1916. Worn by Captain Robert de Coure. Dark brown leather with snake clasp, in the Royal Irish Constabulary belt clasp style.
automatic pistol / Countess Markievicz, 1916
Pistol surrendered by Countess Markievicz to Major Harry E. de Courcy Wheeler at the Royal College of Surgeons, at the end of Easter week, 1916. Browning Fabrique Nationale automatic pistol. Calibre .25', number 474251, in leather holster. Pistol marked as above, and with 'FN' on butt. One...
piper costume / Eamonn Ceannt, 1908
The piper's costume worn by Eamonn Ceannt. This was the costume which he wore when in September 1908, he played the Irish War Pipes before his Holiness the Pope Pius X at the Vatican. The costume was one of three which were made to Eamonn Ceannt's design for an Irish concert at the Queen's hall,...
/ Gaelic League / Anglo-Irish Truce
Typewriter, Underwood; the first typewriter with Irish characters used by the Gaelic League. Purchased about 1905 by the Gaelic League, and probably the first Gaelic Typewriter to be made. On this machine Seamus MacConglinne, the then Secretary of the Gaelic League, typed the Irish versions of the...
trophy / Defence of Trinity, Cadet Corporal P.J. Killeen, 1916
Silver cup awarded to Defenders of Trinity College Dublin, 1916 Rising. Awarded to Cadet Corporal P.J. Killeen. Engraved one side is DEFENCE OF T.C.D./SINN FEIN REBELLION/EASTER 1916 and on the other side CADET CORPL P.J. KILLEEN. 8 cm. high and 7 cm. wide overall, with 'Regd 307558' stamped on...
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...
helmet / British Army, WWI
British Army helmet, World War I, 1914 - 1918. This helmet is of the type used by the British Army at the time of the 1916 Rising.
rifle / Jack Byrne, Fianna Éireann
One of the American Boy Scout rifles of the type used by boys of Fianna Éireann. The boys subscribed and purchased their own weapons. The cost price was about 35/-. Considerable financial support for the Fianna Organisation came from honorary members who comprised the fathers and friends of the...
barrister's wig / Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse's barrister's wig. Horsehair barrister wig, made by Madden & Black, Bar, Wig and Robe Makers, 145 Capel Street, Dublin. 'Pearse' handwritten in ink on maker's label.
cap / Monteith, Casement's Brigade, 1916
Captain Robert Monteith's cap, of Casement's Irish Brigade. Part of a set of uniforms belonging to Captain Monteith as an Officer of Casement's Brigade.
convict cap / Thomas Ashe, 1917, Portland and Lewes
The prison cap worn by Thomas Ashe in Portland and Lewes Jail, 1917. Regulation pattern fawn felt cap, red six-pointed star in front and on black patch on left side "q102".
revolver / Cathal Brugha, 1916
Double action Smith and Wesson Revolver, about 1906. Used by Cathal Brugha, 1916. Fixed foresight with sighting ridge on strap of six chamber cylinder. Locking notches on side of cylinder. Checked collar on ejection rod head. Checked thumb grip on hammer. Timber checked grips at Lanyard swivel....
rifle / Irish Citizen Army, 1916
One Italian magazine bolt action rifle of the pattern used by the Citizen Army in 1916. Found by the British in a dump. On butt "ARTICA FABA D'ARMI TERNI-1888-RIPARAZIONE", Italian arms and serial no. KB 772. KB 772 on breech end of barrel and Terni 1884. Note: This is a Vetterli rifle and should...
award /
Cycling cup (with stand). This cup was won outright by Mr. Michael Walker (Snr) in 1914 for winning the Irish Roadclub 50 mile race (3rd year in succession). Michael Walker represented Ireland (under the British umbrella) in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. He also joined the Irish Volunteers at...stand /
Stand for Cycling cup. This cup was won outright by Mr. Michael Walker (Snr) in 1914 for winning the Irish Roadclub 50 mile race (3rd year in succession). Michael Walker represented Ireland (under the British umbrella) in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. He also joined the Irish Volunteers at its...