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.
 
dummy rifle / Irish Volunteers
Dummy rifle, wooden cut out; 45' in length. Probably used for drilling exercises by the Irish Volunteers, pre 1916. 110cm in length, the initials 'E Mc' carved into the butt.
 
photograph / Irish Volunteers, c. 1914
Photograph of a group of Irish Volunteers c. 1914. Group, names underneath in pencil - O'Donnell, Unknown, McCabe, Mcgarvey, Caffrey, Comlica, Meade, Geason, Meade, Carolan, Tobin, Flanagan, Tobin, Griffon, Meade, Byrne, Cuffe, Carrick, Tobin, Sullivan, Dolan, Walsh, McHugh, Nolan. Taken at The...
 
socket bayonet / 1916 Rising
A shotgun bayonet, homemade type, c. 1916. Blade steel 10.7 inches long, 1.3 inches at section, rivetted to cylinderical steel socket, open at both ends, 6 inches long. Socket made to grip barrel of shotgun, tightening by two wing nuts. No maker's mark.
 
photograph / Irish Citizen Army, Croydon Park, 1914
Photograph of a Company of the Irish Citizen Army, taken at Croydon Park, 1914. With the Starry Plough flag.
 
dummy rifle / Irish Volunteers, 1916
One dummy rifle, wooden cut-out, said to have been used for drill by the Irish Volunteers, pre-1916. Partially painted to resemble iron barrel and fittings. With an iron nail and hook.
 
dummy rifle / Irish Volunteers
Dummy rifle, wooden cut out. 45 inches in length. Said to have been used for drill by the Irish Volunteers, pre 1916.
 
bill / Joseph Plunkett, 1915
Hotel bill, San Sebastian, 26 March 1915. In the name of Joseph Oplupizun, an alias of Joseph Plunkett, when on his way to Germany to negotiate the acquisition of arms for the Rising.
 
mobilisation order / Irish Citizen Army, May 1915
Irish Citizen Army Mobilisation Order, 4 May 1915 on quarto headed paper with messages in ink. All officers will fall in with men under the command of Staff Officer Mallin on every Monday and Tuesday at 8.30 sharp. Wednesday - signalling instruction under Lieutenant O'Neill at 8.30. Thursday -...
 
note / Seán Heuston
Note, handwritten in pencil by Seán Heuston, concerning stores. No date, but relating to the Mendicity Insitiution, 1916 Rising and preparation for.
 
photograph / Captain Robert Monteith
Autographed photograph of Captain Robert Monteith, in Casement Brigade uniform, c. 1915-16, dedicated to Garth Healy, Consul General in New York.
 
button / Patrick Pearse, 1916
Irish Volunteer button from Patrick Pearse's uniform jacket. Domed showing harp dividing I.V. with the legend (maker) HENECY & SONS. DUBLIN on the back. Label with it says 'Button from uniform jacket of P.H. Pearse, dropped during parade at Rathfarnham, March 1916.'
 
rifle / Cathal Brugha, pre-1916
Martini Rifle Action .22 (adapted) by Greener and Company, Birmingham, No. 024800. Used by Irish Volunteer members of the Banba Rifle Club. pre-1916, for practicing at 25, 50, 100 yards ranges and for teaching purposes. Cathal Brugha fired his first shot out of this rifle.
 
die / Irish Volunteers, Dublin, 1916
One of two hollow steel dies for cutting cartridge pouches for bandoliers, previous to 1916. Both dies and pouches were made at Artane. The latter was distributed through a Dublin agent to the Volunteer body. A note in archive file reads 'These two leather-stamping Dies were designed and made in...
 
die / Irish Volunteers, Dublin, 1916
One of two hollow steel dies for cutting cartridge pouches for bandoliers, previous to 1916. Both dies and pouches were made at Artane. The latter distributed through a Dublin agent to the Volunteer body. Two strips of metal, partially painted blue, bent into shapes, possibly a mould. A note in...
 
circular / Irish Volunteer Military Staff, 1914
Irish Volunteer Circular (typescript) re re-organisation of Military Staff, 14 August 1914. Issued by Bulmer Hobson. Blank chart.
 
jacket / Marquis MacSwiney, 1915
Irish Volunteer uniform tunic, Officer's, as worn by the Marquis MacSwiney, pre-1916. Jacket - plain green cloth, four patch pockets, open at throat with lapels, four buttons down front (each inscribed harp and 'I.V.'), button on each flap and on either epaulette. Neck breast and shoulders : (see...
 
trousers / Marquis MacSwiney, 1915
Irish Volunteer uniform trousers, Officer's, as worn by the Marquis MacSwiney, pre-1916. Jacket - plain green cloth, four patch pockets, open at throat with lapels, four buttons down front (each inscribed harp and 'I.V.'), button on each flap and on either epaulette. Neck breast and shoulders :...
 
tin / Irish Volunteer, 1914
Irish Volunteers Defence of Ireland Fund collection box, 1914. Cylinderical, metal, with handle. Coin slot in top; bottom broken open along rim; painted green. Label pasted on, with legend: Óglaigh na hÉireann/Defence of Ireland Fund/1914. Box about 5 inches high and 4 inches in diameter. Found...
 
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)...