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 spoon / John Kavanagh
Prison spoon, carved from horn. Engraved along the handle is ‘John Kavanagh’. Other inscriptions illegible, but lettering may suggest Mountjoy Jail.
ticket / P.W. Nally, 1891
Ticket, admission to meeting to commemorate the death, in Mountjoy Jail, of P.W. Nally, 1891. Nally was a prominant Fenian. Printed card. John O'Leary was Chairman. HH:1940.82.1-12. Collection of papers relating to 19th Century Irish History. HH:1940.82.6 - ticket, admission to meeting to...
stand / Helga / Mountjoy, 1916
Shell, unexploded, mounted in a bespoke wooden stand with plaque attached to the front reading 'Fired from the Helga Easter 1916 and penetrated roof of stores Mountjoy Prison'. It is unlikely that the range and trajectory of the Helga's gun could have propelled the shell as far as mountjoy, and it...
prison art / Mountjoy, 1917
Cross on pyramid made by prisoner in Mountjoy in 1917. Out of a 3" long bullet.
prison spoon / Mountjoy Jail, 1917
Prison spoon, carved from horn, used in Mountjoy Prison in 1917 by Commandant Peter Howley.
key / Thomas Ashe, Mountjoy
A pair of handcuffs which were worn by Thomas Ashe during his imprisonment in Mountjoy Prison. Complete with three keys. Obtained by Mrs. Larry Murphy, Roundwood, Dublin, from a warder, and given to Mr B. Touhy.
photograph / Suffragettes, Mountjoy Jail, 1914
(Cashman 2) Suffragettes, meeting outside Mountjoy Jail, 3 May 1914. With inset of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington.
photograph / Mountjoy Jail hunger strike, 1921
(Cashman 50) Hunger Strike 1921. Photograph of British forces outside Mountjoy Jail during the hunger strikes, 1921.
photograph / Mountjoy Gaol, 1919-1921
(Cashman 130) War of Independence. Photograph of three British soldiers soldiers fixing a small machine gun, possibly a Lewis, in position outside the gates of Mountjoy Jail. Two civilians, a man and a woman, look on.
death certificate / Sean Connolly, 1916
Contemporary copy of death certificate of Sean Connolly. Head 'Mountjoy Prison 15.5.16' and signed K. Lynn F.R.C.S.I. 9 Belgrave Road, Rathmines. On pencil on back 'Mrs. O'Reilly, 12 Lr. Gardiner St.' and 'Mrs. O'Reilly 107 Belgr.' (rest indecipherable).
typescript / Liam Mellows' Last Letter, copy
With contemporary typed transcript of Liam Mellows last letter to his mother before execution, 8 December 1922. Copy of the original EW.2378
photograph / Group, Mountjoy release, 1921
Photograph of a group of men in the O'Farrell's flat after their release from Mountjoy Jail in 1921. This unclear photograph includes Brian McCaffrey, Henry O'Farrell, Gertie O'Farrell, Rita Costello and possibly Joseph O'Farrell and Vincent McMullen.
photograph / D Wing, Mountjoy Jail, 1921
Photograph of D Wing, Mountjoy Jail, taken between November and December 1921. Republican prisoners visible.
photograph / Mountjoy, 1920
Photograph of a group of prisoners, three rows of men in civilian clothing, under sentence of death. Probably Mountjoy, 1920.
newspaper article / Mountjoy 10
Frank Flood. A cutting regarding the death of Flood, Thomas Bryan, Patrick Doyle and Bernard Ryan, detailing their last minutes. Titled 'All for the Sacred Heart'.
prison art / Mountjoy, 1922
Mountjoy Prisoner's Work. Spoon, aluminium, decorated by prisoner. All over incised scroll and floral decoration. On bowl: "B. Brady. Prisoner of War. Mountjoy. 1922". (And see EW 942).
autograph album / Andy Cooney, , Mountjoy Jail, 1923
Autograph book, photocopy of, Andy Cooney, Mountjoy Jail, 1923.
photograph / British armoured car, Mountjoy, 1920
Photograph of a British armoured car bearing upon it an inscription 'Up Sinn Féin'. No date. This photograph is from a larger version, which shows the car is outside Mountjoy Prison, with a crowd outside the entrance further down the street. Probably dates to the Mountjoy Hunger Strikes of April...
manuscript / I love each sod of Irish earth, Mountjoy, c.1921
Original manuscript poem composed by James Byrne in Mountjoy on the fourth day of his hunger strike, probably around 1921. Record of the late James Byrne, Knockaragh, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow. Former pupil of Rathvilly Boys' Natioanl School. He worked as grocer's assistant in Gilligan's, 70 Ballybough...