A History of Ireland in 100 Objects

Last updated December 15, 2024

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.

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]

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References

1 2 "Ninth Definitive Series 100 Objects". An Post. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
↑ McGreevy, Ronan (6 February 2017). "The History of Ireland in 100 objects becomes a stamp series". The Irish Times . Retrieved 30 June 2017.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ O'Toole, Fintan (2 July 2011). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Petrie Crown, second century". The Irish Times . Retrieved 30 June 2017.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ O'Toole, Fintan. "A history of Ireland in 100 objects: Tara Brooch, eighth century". The Irish Times, 3 September 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2022
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ O'Toole, Fintan (19 May 2012). "A history of Ireland in 100 objects : Crucifixion stone". The Irish Times . Retrieved 30 June 2017.
↑ 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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[an-post-2017-1] 1 2 "Ninth Definitive Series 100 Objects". An Post. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.

[irish-times-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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A History of Ireland in 100 Objects

Contents

List of objects

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

References

External links