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.
prison autograph album / The Book of Ballykinlar, 1921
The Book of Ballykinlar. On August 12, 1921, all the Teachtai Dála in Ballykinlar were released from Ballykinlar Camp to attend a meeting of Dáil Éireann which was held in the Mansion House on August 16, 1921. (It was the first meeting of the 2nd Dáil) The Ballykinlar T.D.'s (No. 2 Camp) got this...
letter / General Maxwell, 2 May 1916
Letter from Patrick Pearse to General Maxwell, General Commanding the British Forces in Ireland, from Kilmainham Gaol, dated 2 May 1916. Requesting that his statements regarding his financial affairs and unpublished poems, along with his personal possessions, are passed to his mother or sister.
letter / Patrick Pearse, 2 May 1916
Letter from General Maxwell to Patrick Pearse, acknowledging receipt of Pearse's letter from Kilmainham Prison, dated 2 May 1916, requesting that his statements regarding his financial affairs and unpublished poems, along with his personal possessions, are passed to his mother or sister.
last statement / Kilmainham Gaol, 9 May 1916
Last statement of James Connolly, 9 May 1916. Handwritten in pencil. Taken out of Kilmainham Gaol by his daughter Nora after their last visit before his execution.
note / Countermanding Order, 1916 Rising
Countermanding order issued by Eoin MacNeill. Note of Eoin MacNeill with signature, addressed from Woodtown Park, Rathfarnham, April 22, 1916. No direction. Worded 'Volunteers completely deceived. All orders for tomorrow Sunday are entirely cancelled'. On a sheet of notepaper, lower portion torn...
last letter / John Daly, 11 May 1916
The last letter written by Seán Mac Diarmada to John Daly, 1916. Written a few hours before his execution. Dated Kilmainham Prison, 11 May 1916. One page. With envelope and covering letter from the British Commandant of Kilmainham Detention Barracks, dated 13 May 1916.
1916 Proclamation / Half-Proclamation, 1916
Original print of the lower half of the Easter Week Proclamation 1916. With a signature at the top left hand corner, 'Presented to Sir H. [illegible] Just run off [illegible] at Liberty Hall by an old friend. 3.5.16, 1.20pm'. Printed in Liberty Hall by British soldiers about April 29 - May 6, 1916....
printing type / Proclamation, 1916
Three pieces of printing type, comprising capital F and two lower case letters e. Type from the font used in the printing of the 1916 Proclamation. Found among the papers of William O'Brien.
order / Countermanding Order, 1916 Rising
Letter by Eoin Mac Néill authenticating his order countermanding mobilisation on Easter Saturday, published in the 'Sunday Independant' Easter Sunday 1916. On paper stamped 'Woodtown Park, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin'. Dated Easter Sunday. 'The order to Irish Volunteers printed over my name in...
photograph book / Dublin and the Sinn Féin Rising, 1916
'Dublin and the Sinn Féin Rising'. An illustrated booklet depicting the aftermath of the 1916 Rising. Published in 1916 by Wilson, Hartnell and Co., Ltd., Dublin.
type slug / 1916 Proclamation
Type slug from the font used in the printing of the 1916 Proclamation. A mixture of upper and lower case wooden and metal type. Found in the Joseph McGarrity papers in an envelope endorsed 'Keepsake from Mellows 1917'. This refers to Liam Mellows.
spectacle case / Thomas Clarke, 1916
Spectacle case, empty, of Thomas Clarke. Part of a collection of personal objects - a spectacle case, an indelible pencil and a book of stamps - returned by the British authorities to Mrs. Kathleen Clarke after the execution of her husband, Tom Clarke at Kilmainham, May 1916.
pencil / Thomas Clarke, 1916
Pencil of Thomas Clarke. Part of a collection of personal objects - a spectacle case, an indelible pencil and book of stamps - returned by the British authorities to Mrs. Kathleen Clarke after the execution of her husband, Tom Clarke.stamp / Thomas Clarke, 1916
Booklet of postage stamps, of Thomas Clarke. Part of a collection of personal objects - a spectacle case, an indelible pencil and book of stamps - returned by the British authorities to Mrs. Kathleen Clarke after the execution of her husband, Tom Clarke.
mobilisation order / Easter Sunday Manouevres, 1916
Official mobilisation order for Easter Sunday Manoeuvres, 21 April 1916, signed by Captain Thomas Weafer. Issued to E Company, 2nd Battalion, Irish Volunteers.
souvenir / Joseph Plunkett, 1916
Joseph Mary Plunkett's rosary beads, given by him to Sergeant W. Hand of the Sherwood Foresters, a member of the firing squad which executed him. Hand in turn gave it to his cousin, Dora, before going to France where he was killed in 1918.
prison autograph album / Dublin Castle, 1916
Autograph album kept by a member of Cumann na mBan in the immediate aftermath of the 1916 Rising, and signed by wounded insurgent prisoners detained in Dublin Castle. Among the signatories are Cathal Brugha and Noel Lemass.
salt dispenser / Anti Home Rule, 1912
Anti Home Rule Egg. 1912. Ceramic salt dispenser, egg-shaped, with legend 'Laid at Westminister 1912 Home Rule But Won't Hatch in Ulster'.
death certificate / Joseph Plunkett, 1916
Certificate of Death of Joseph Plunkett, which states the place (Detention Barracks, Kilmainham), cause (Shooting by order of Field general Court Martial) and date of death (4.5.1916) of the above. Certificate dated 2 June 1916. Plunkett was executed for his involvement in the 1916 Rising. Once the...