Wills as historical sources

The law dictated who could make a will or testament and what form the document took. The practice of writing testaments arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Normans. Testaments allowed people to dictate instructions for their funeral, appoint executors and dispose of their ‘moveable’ property—their possessions with the exception of land or houses, which were passed … Read more

A flavour of the collection

1916 Rising Records and documents relating to Easter Week 1916 are contained in a series of files catalogued under ‘Membership and Organization’, including IRA Nominal Rolls and reports by Cumann na mBan, Na Fianna Éireann and the Irish Citizen Army. The most important of these files include the ‘Nominal Rolls for Easter Week 1916’ compiled … Read more

Who attended?

Lord chief justice of Ireland Sir Richard de La Rochelle Bishop of Meath & treasurer of Ireland Hugh of Taghmon Chancellor Sir Frenmund Le Brune (de Brun) First baron of Trim (chief justice of Ireland 1273–6) Sir Geoffrey de Geneville Knight Sir Thomas de Yppegrane Escheator Master William de Bakepiz Knights & jurors Sir John … Read more

Liam O’Flaherty’s 1922 manifesto

Sir,—The Liam and Tom O’Flaherty Society is searching for the manifesto issued by a 120-strong group of unemployed who seized the concert hall at the Rotunda (today’s Gate Theatre) in an effort to highlight the apathy of the authorities towards unemployment in the newly founded Irish Free State, 19–22 January 1922. This manifesto was drawn … Read more