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 / Fenian Flag
Photograph of an alleged Fenian Flag. 3.5 ins square colour print, showing faded brown flag with maid-of-erin yellow harp in centre. Colour of field was originally green. Now in posession of the Knights of Equity, Buffalo, New York and alleged to have been a Fenian Flag.
replica / Fenian Flag
Replica of Fenian flag. Copy of the flag carried by the Fenians at Tallaght in 1867. Green field with 4 rows, each with eight gold stars on either side.
resource / Fenian flag, 1865
Photographic copy of a sketch or drawing of Fenian flag. The sketch is in the State Paper office and was seized in 1865 by the authorities. It shows two dark and two white stripes and 32 stars in the top corner.
Fenian bond / Irish National Bonds, 1860s
Fenian Bond Receipt. No. 3022, blank and undated beyond digits 186. Irish National Bonds, with depiction of a blacksmith and an arm with hammer.
drawing / Erin's Hope
Black and white drawing, print of the 'Erin's Hope', the Fenian Ship, taken from 'Dock and the Scaffold', 1868. Full plate.
flag / William Smith O'Brien, 1854
Guidon, pennant, presented to William Smith O'Brien in 1854 on his return to Ireland. In gilt letters on field across, 'Ireland's Truest Patriot W.S.O'Brien M.P.'. Main section green silk, 17.5 inches wide by 34 inches long in furcations. Around a 1.7 inches strip of white. Overlapping green and...
negative / William Smith O'Brien, 1854
Photograph negative of the Guidon presented to William Smith O'Brien, 1854, on his return to Ireland. Main section green silk, 17.5 inches wide by 34 inches long in furcations. Around a 1.7 inches strip of white. Overlapping green and white a 1.2 inches ribbon of decorated gold. All surrounded...
signet ring / Captain John McCafferty, 1866
Signet ring, presented to Captain John McCafferty, the Invincible leader, by the Detroit Fenians, 1866. Gold closing daguerrotype or tinted photograph of the Fenian leader. Inscribed on top 'Erin I Love Thee and Thy Patriots'. Inscribed underneath 'Presented to Captain John McCafferty I.R.B. by...
seal impression / Fenian Seal
Wax Impression of Fenian Seal. Green, depicting the letters IR on a sunburst emerging from behind clouds. Seal said to have been used by James Stephens on all communications to John O'Mahony. The seal was brought to USA by John Brady.
drawing / Fenian Seal
Illustration in black ink of the wax impression of Fenian Seal (a). Wax seal is green, depicting the letters IR on a sunburst emerging from behind clouds. Seal said to have been used by James Stephens on all communications to John O'Mahony. The seal was brought to USA by John Brady.
photograph / Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt at Freemantle. Full plate print photograph showing him seated outside what had been a temporary prison for Fenians.
photograph / Patrick O'Donnell
Photograph, said to be of Patrick O'Donnell. Photograph of The Invincible who assassinated James Carey, the Informer, off Cape Town, and who was executed for this in December 1883.
book / Patrick O'Donnell
Patrick O'Donnell's copybook, Darnell's Sure Guide to a Good Hand Writing, with which the chaplain (whose brother gave it to Donor's aunt) taught him to write. Autographed on first page with 'Patrick O'Donnell. August 8, 1883'.
resource / $10
Fenian bond no.11416. Xeroxprint of $10 bond issued in the U.S.A. and signed by Michael Scanlan as "Agent of the Republic".