A History of Ireland in 100 Objects

A History of Ireland in 100 Objects was a joint project by The Irish Times, the National Museum of Ireland, and the Royal Irish Academy to define one hundred archaeological or cultural objects that are important in the history of Ireland. The objects are single man-made artefacts or documents, excluding buildings, ranging in date from about 5,000 BC (Mesolithic) to the early 21st century. Most of the objects are held in accessible collections in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.[1]

Details of the hundred objects, written by Irish Times journalist Fintan O'Toole, were initially serialized in The Irish Times between February 2011 and January 2013. In February 2013 a book about the hundred objects written by O'Toole, entitled A History of Ireland in 100 Objects, was published, and it quickly became a best-seller with 35,000 free downloads.[2]

In January 2017 An Post announced that a selection of the 100 objects would form the subjects for the 9th definitive postage stamp series for Ireland, to be issued over a period of five or six years from 2017. The first set of stamps featuring twelve of the objects were issued in January 2017, consisting of eight different SOAR (Stamps on a Roll) stamps with various values (€0.05 to €7.50), a range coil stamps, and a national (N) and an international (W) rate stamp booklet.[1]

List of objects

Objects for which there is a specific Wikipedia article are given in bold type.

Image Number Object Date Location Postage stamp Reference
1 Mesolithic fish trap c. 5000 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Dublin Set 1, 2017 (SOAR) [3]
2 Ceremonial axehead 3600 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
3 Neolithic bowl c. 3500 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
4 Flint macehead 3300–2800 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
5 Neolithic bag 3800–2500 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
6 Basket earrings c. 2300 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
7 Pair of gold discs 2200–2000 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 ('N' rate)
8 Coggalbeg gold hoard 2300–2000 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
9 Bronze Age funerary pots 1900–1300 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
10 Tara torcs c. 1200 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR) [4]
11 Mooghaun hoard c. 800 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, and British Museum
12 Gleninsheen gorget c. 800–700 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 ('W' rate)
13 Castlederg bronze cauldron 700–600 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 ('N' rate)
14 Iron spearhead 800–675 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
15 Broighter boat c. 100 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 (SOAR)
16 Old Croghan Man 362–175 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Set 1, 2017 ('N' rate)
17 Loughnashade horn c. 100 BC National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
18 Keshcarrigan bowl early-1st century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
19 The Corleck Head 1st to 2nd century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
20 Petrie crown 2nd century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [5]
21 Cunorix stone 460–75 In situ
22 St Patrick's Confessio 21 c. 460–90 Trinity College, Dublin
23 Mullaghmast stone 500–600 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
24 St Patrick's bell c. 7th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [6]
25 Springmount wax tablets late-6th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
26 Ballinderry Brooch c. 600 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
27 Donore handle 700–20 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [7]
28 Book of Kells c. 800 Trinity College
29 Tara brooch 8th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [8]
30 Ardagh chalice 8th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
31 Derrynflan paten late-8th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
32 Moylough Belt-Shrine 8th or 9th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [9]
33 Rinnegan Crucifixion Plaque 8th or 9th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
34 Tall cross late-9th century Monasterboice, County Louth [10]
35 Oseberg ship c. 815 Museum of Cultural History, Oslo, Norway
36 Ballinderry sword mid-9th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
37 Decorated lead weights c. 900 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
38 Roscrea Brooch late-9th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
39 Slave chain late-9th or early-10th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
40 Silver cone mid-10th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
41 Carved crook early-11th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
42 Breac Maodhóg late-11th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
43 Clonmacnoise Crozier 11th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
44 Cross of Cong early-12th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
45 'Strongbow's tomb' 12th century Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
46 Laudabiliter papal bull 1155 National Library of Ireland, Dublin
47 Figure of a horseman 13th century National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
48 Domhnach Airgid c. 1350 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
49 Waterford charter roll 1215–1373 Medieval Museum, Waterdord
50 Two coins 1280s and 1460 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
51 Processional cross 1479 National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
52 Magi Cope c. 1470 Medieval Museum, Waterdord
53 De Burgo-O'Malley chalice 1494 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
54 Kavanagh charter horn 12th and 15th centuries National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology [11]
55 Gallowglass gravestone 15th or 16th century Gaelic Athletic Association Museum, Dublin
56 Book of Common Prayer 1551 Royal Irish Academy, Dublin
57 Salamander pendant c. 1588 Ulster Museum, Belfast
58 Morion late-16th century National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
59 Leac na ríogh 10–15th century Near Cookstown, County Tyrone
60 Wassail bowl late-16th century Ulster Museum, Belfast
61 Deposition on atrocities 1641 Trinity College
62 O'Queely chalice 1640 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History, Dublin
63 Fleetwood cabinet c. 1652 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History (now National Gallery of Ireland)
64 Books of Survey and Distribution mid-17th century National Archives of Ireland, Dublin
65 King William's gauntlets c. 1690 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History [12]
66 Crucifixion stone 1740 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History [13]
67 Conestoga wagon 18th century Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone
68 Wood's halfpence 1722 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
69 Dillon regimental flag 1745 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
70 Rococo candlestick c. 1745 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
71 Engraving of linen-makers 1782 Ulster Museum, Belfast
72 Cotton panel 1783 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
73 Pike 1798 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
74 Act of Union blacklist early-19th century National Library of Ireland
75 Penrose decanter late-18th century National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
76 Robert Emmet's ring 1790s National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
77 Wicker cradle 19th–20th centuries National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
78 Daniel O'Connell's 'chariot' 1844 Caherdaniel, County Kerry
79 Stokes 'tapestry' 1833–53 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
80 'Captain Rock' threatening letter 1842 National Library of Ireland
81 Empty cooking pot 19th century National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
82 Emigrant's teapot late-19th–mid-20th century National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, County Mayo
83 William Smith O'Brien gold cup 1854 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
84 Parnell silver casket 1844 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
85 Carlow Cathedral pulpit 1899 Carlow County Museum, County Carlow
86 Youghal lace collar 1906 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
87 Gaelic Athletic Association medal 1887 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
88 Reclining Buddha late-19th century National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
89 Titanic launch ticket May 1911 Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, County Down
90 River Clyde lamp 1915 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
91 James Connolly's shirt 1916 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
92 Rejected coin design 1927 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
93 Boyne coracle 1928 National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
94 Eileen Gray chair 1926 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
95 Emigrant's suitcase 1950s National Museum of Ireland – Country Life
96 Washing machine 1950s Irish Agricultural Museum, County Wexford
97 Bloody Sunday handkerchief 1972 Museum of Free Derry, Derry
98 Intel microprocessor 1994 National Science Museum at Maynooth, County Kildare
99 Anglo Irish Bank sign 2000–2011 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History
100 Decommissioned AK-47 2005 National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History [14]

See also

Further reading

  • O'Toole, Fintan (2013). A History of Ireland in 100 Objects. Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 9781908996152.

References

  1. ^ a b "Ninth Definitive Series 100 Objects". An Post. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  2. ^ McGreevy, Ronan (6 February 2017). "The History of Ireland in 100 objects becomes a stamp series". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  3. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (12 February 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Unearthing the long history of our island, one object at a time". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  4. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (23 April 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Tara torcs, c 1200 BC". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  5. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (2 July 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Petrie Crown, second century". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  6. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (6 August 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : St Patrick's Bell, c.500 AD". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  7. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (20 August 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Church door handle, circa 700-720". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  8. ^ O'Toole, Fintan. "A history of Ireland in 100 objects: Tara Brooch, eighth century". The Irish Times, 3 September 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2022
  9. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (24 September 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Moylough Belt Shrine, eighth century". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  10. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (8 October 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Tall cross at Monasterboice, ninth century". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  11. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (25 February 2012). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Kavanagh Charter Horn, 13th and 15th centuries". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  12. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (12 May 2012). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : King William's gauntlets, circa 1690". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  13. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (19 May 2012). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Crucifixion stone". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  14. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (12 January 2013). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Decommissioned AK-47 assault rifle, 2005". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
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