Collection
Since the first donation of an original copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic by Kathleen Clarke in 1963, Kilmainham Gaol Museum has collected approximately 10,000 objects to date.
The museum has traditionally relied on the generosity of ordinary people who have donated objects to Kilmainham Gaol Museum which relate to the political and penal history of Ireland. The Kilmainham Gaol collection consists of a wide variety of object types, ranging from manuscript material, photographs, newspapers, weaponry, artwork, medals, uniforms and personal effects. The main strength of the collection is material relating to the Irish Revolution, 1916-23.
The origins of the collection lie with Kilmainham Jail Restoration Society (KJRS), the volunteer body which administered Kilmainham Gaol as a heritage site and museum from 1960-1986. During this period KJRS collected objects relating to the nationalist and republican history of Ireland from 1798 onwards, which were displayed in the East Wing of the prison building. Significant acquisitions included material relating to Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Collins, objects and documents belonging to the executed leaders of the 1916 Rising and a large collection of weaponry used mostly in the 1914-23 period.
In 1986 ownership of the collection was transferred to the Irish State. Administered by the Office of Public Works, Kilmainham Gaol Museum began to collect material relating to the penal history of Kilmainham Gaol while continuing to collect material relating to the nationalist and republican history of Ireland. A purpose-built museum building opened at Kilmainham Gaol in 1996, providing improved facilities for displaying the collection. A major temporary exhibition entitled Guns and Chiffon in 1997 encouraged donations of material relating to the activities of female revolutionaries in the 1916-23 period.
The Kilmainham Gaol collection also contains archival material which can be accessed for research purposes. Although this collection is relatively small, it contains important material relating to political imprisonment in the 1916-23 period, significant material relating to the experience of women during the Civil War and material relating to key individuals such as Eamon de Valera, Sean Heuston, Austin Stack and Patrick Moran.
A particular strength of the archival collections is material which relates to the experience of ‘rank-and-file’ members of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Army, 1916-23.
Black box belonging to John Sheahan – transported from Kilmainham Gaol, December 1842
04EF 3N41 01
A black wooden box belonging to John Sheahan of Kildimo, Co. Limerick. Convicted of an agrarian crime in July 1842, he received twelve months' imprisonment and seven years' transportation.
Committed to Kilmainham Gaol in September 1842, he sailed that December aboard 'The North Briton' and arrived in Hobart on 4 April 1843. Everything he took to Van Diemen's Land travelled in this small box. He was certified free on 18 April 1854 and prospered in Australia.
