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.
tunic / Alice Cashel, Cumann na mBan, 1916-1921
Uniform jacket or tunic, Cumann na mBan, 1916 period. As worn by the donor Miss Alice Cashel. Alice Cashel was a member of the Cork Branch of Sinn Fein and a founding member, with Annie McSwiney, of the Cork Cumann na mBan, before the Irish Volunteers were established there.
surrender order / Enniscorthy Volunteers, 30 April 1916
The order to surrender given to the Enniscorthy Volunteers by Commandant General Patrick Pearse in Arbour Hill, on Sunday 30 April, 1916, the day after the official surrender. This copy was brought from Pearse to the garrison at Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, who had not yet surrendered to the British...
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,...
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...
indenture / Edward Gibson, 1908
Indenture of apprenticeship. Boy's indenture of apprenticeship, apprenticing Edward Gibson to Nicholas Alexander of the Dublin Silk Trade. The indenture was signed by Michael Mallin, who was Secretary of the Society. Nicholas Alexander subsequently fought in the St Stephen's Green area under...
book / William Partridge, 1916 Rising
A book of Dublin Corporation reports which Councillor William P. Partridge carried under his arm when he was sent by James Connolly on an important mission to Tralee a week previous to Easter Sunday 1916. Concealed in the book where layers of bullets and some secret documents. Section cut out of...
pin badge / Votes for Women, 1908-1916
Badge worn by Francis Sheehy Skeffington and taken from his coat after his death in 1916. Metal, covered celluloid white, with "Votes for Women I.W.F.L." in green.
card case / Harry Mitchelson, 1915
Silver card case, ‘HM’ monogrammed on the front. On the inside is inscribed ‘Mr. Harry Mitchelson With best wishes. From the Proprietor & Staff of the Bohemian Picture Theatre, Dublin. Sept. 11th 1915’. Birmingham hallmarks. The Bohemian Picture Theatre was a cinema in Phibsborough. Harry...
fragment / General Post Office, 1916
Fragments of flag found in the ruins of the General Post Office about Monday, May 1st, 1916. It consists of two scraps of bunting material; one, leaf-shaped, white, c.4" x 2"; the other in shape of two leaves joined together along side, c.4" x 3", more than half the material being green and the...
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...
automatic pistol / Countess Markievicz, 1916
Countess Markievicz's Mauser automatic pistol. With detachable carbine stock which acts as a holster or case. Calibre .30. 5'' rifled barrel. Rear-sight 50 - 1,000 metres. Barrel marked with manufacturer's marks as above. Serial number 162742. With a contemporary note, written by Major Harry de...
walking stick / Patrick Pearse, 1916
Sword-stick which belonged to Commandant General Patrick Pearse. Blade of diamond section, 26'' long, with rough hued and gilt decoration towards the hilt, mounted in brown lacquered cane. The cane has a horn handle extending at right angles to its main axis and there is a silver band 1' wide at...
holster / Con Colbert, 1916
Captain Con Colbert's Webley & Scott automatic pistol. It was given by him to a friend, a short time before Easter Week, 1916. Serial No. 115555.
automatic pistol / Joseph Plunkett to Grace Gifford, 1916
An automatic pistol which was presented by Joseph Mary Plunkett to his wife Grace Gifford in 1916. On the grip along the butt strap is incised - 'From Joseph Mary Plunkett, to Grace Gifford, Holy Saturday, 1916'. Scratched on ends of gutta percha (or composition)...