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1963 John F. Kennedy Lectern
1963 John F. Kennedy Lectern
IE LMOD 699 · Item · Twentieth Century

A wooden music stand that was used as a lectern by John F Kennedy. on the centre of the stand is a small metal plaque inscribed with 'This stand was used by John F. Kennedy President, United States of America when addressing Dáil and Seanad Eireann in Leinster House 28th June 1963. It was loaned for the occasion by Comdt John P. Brennock Asst Director Army School of Music.'

On 28 June, President John F Kennedy addressed both houses of the Oireachtas. It was a historic visit, not least because Kennedy, a young, dynamic Irish-American, had long made much of his Irish roots. Speaking at this lectern, Kennedy described his heritage, made an attack on literary censorship and noted – to the delight of the assembled politicians – that Leinster House “does not inspire the brightest ideas.”
The ‘lectern’ is actually a music stand that was owned by John Brennock, who bought it in an antique shop on Fishamble Street. During one of many meetings to prepare for President Kennedy’s visit, it was realised that the Dáil chamber did not have a lectern that could be used for a speech – TDs address the Dáil from where they are seated. Mr Brennock offered to lend his music stand to the Oireachtas. By the time the stand was returned – strapped to the top of a car – Kennedy had already been shot.

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1966 Piece of Nelson's Pillar
1966 Piece of Nelson's Pillar
IE LMOD 342 · Item · Twentieth Century

A piece of rock from Nelson's Pillar from after it was blown up in 1966.

This piece of granite is from Nelson’s Pillar on O’Connell Street, which was blown up by the IRA at 2am on 8 March 1966. Bombs destroyed the upper half of the pillar and threw the statue of Nelson into the street. Several days later, the Irish army demolished the remains of the pillar, causing more damage to O’Connell Street than the original blast. Nelson’s head was stored in a shed on Clanbrassil Street, before being stolen by students from the National College of Art and Design as a fund-raising prank. It was leased to a London antique store owner, and later appeared on the stage of the Olympia when the Dubliners performed. The head of Nelson’s Pillar is now on display in the excellent Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street.

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1966 Supposed Piece of Nelson's Pillar
IE LMOD 731 · Item · Twentieth Century

This piece of granite is alleged to be from Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street, which was blown up by the IRA at 2am on 8 March 1966. Bombs destroyed the upper half of the pillar, causing more damage to O'Connell Street than the original blast. Nelson's head was stored in a shed on Clanbrassil Street, before being stolen by students from the National College of Art and Design as a fund raising prank. It was leased to a London antique store owner, and later appeared on the stage of the Olympia when the Dubliners performed. The head of Nelson's Pillar is now on display in the excellent Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street.

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1970s Portrait of Charles Haughey by Colman Doyle
IE LMOD 294 · Item · Twentieth Century

Print of a colour photographic portrait of Charles Haughey taken during the 1970s by Colman Doyle
Charles Haughey’s career was chequered, and he lived rather well for a modest public servant. He was dismissed from the cabinet in 1970 along with Neil Blaney for allegedly conspiring to import arms into Northern Ireland for the IRA. Cleared of all criminal charges, Haughey fought to regain a seat in the cabinet, and later became party leader and Taoiseach.

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1971 The Contraceptive Train by Eddie Kelly
IE LMOD 760 · Item · Twentieth Century

A black and white photo taken by Eddie Kelly showing a group of women with an Irish Womens Liberation Movement banner at Connolly Station taking part in the contraceptive train to get contraception from Northern Ireland.

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1973-1983 Fine Gael Election Posters
1973-1983 Fine Gael Election Posters
IE LMOD 1677 · Item · Twentieth Century

Four Fine Gael election posters Tom O'Higgins (1973 Presidential Election) a double sided poster, published by AF Hussey, Solr. 17 Northumberland Road.

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1977 Bertie Ahern's First Election Flyer
IE LMOD 727 · Item · Twentieth Century

A black and white postcard saying 'Fianna Fáil Candidates Dublin Finglas Area' showing black and white photographs of the three candidates with their professions underneath: Bertie Ahern (Accountant), Danny Bell (Councillor), Jim Tunney (shadow minister). Signed 'My first election, June '77 Bertie Ahern'

Bertie Ahern was either an anorak-wearing man of the people or a political operator so smooth that nothing would stick to him – the Teflon Taoiseach. He resigned in 2008, giving his successor the ultimate hospital pass.

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1980s Repeal Section 31 Poster
IE LMOD 607 · Item · Twentieth Century

A pink poster with a black and white design of a radio and the caption 'RTÉ News - Are you getting the full facts' 'Repeal section 31 of the Broadcasting Act'

During the Troubles, censorship was used to silence Sinn Féin and the IRA. Under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, it was forbidden to broadcast the voice of Sinn Féin members. This rule was brought in by Fianna Fáil’s Gerry Collins in 1971 and strengthened by Labour’s Conor Cruise O’Brien in 1977. The ban was upheld by the European Commission of Human Rights in 1991, but repealed two years later as part of the peace process.

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1981 Bullets from Ben Dunne’s Kidnappers
IE LMOD 646 · Item · Twentieth Century

Two bullets mounted on a sizable rock from Cullyhanna Graveyard in Armagh with 3 silver plaques bearing the words 'October 16th' 'Ben Dunne 1981' and 'October 22nd'. All of which is mounted on a wooden block.

On the 16th of October, 1981, Ben Dunne Jnr. was kidnapped by the IRA on his way to open a new Dunnes Store in Portadown. Before his release on the 22nd of October, two of his abductors gave him these bullets and told him that they could easily have been used – one on him and the other on Fr. Dermot McCarthy. Fr McCarthy had tried to secure Dunne’s release, making a plea on television and at one point meeting with Dunne’s kidnappers. McCarthy was nearly shot in crossfire. After his release, Ben Dunne mounted the bullets on a piece of stone from the cemetary in Armagh where he had been held captive.

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1989 John Gormley Election Poster
IE LMOD 511 · Item · Twentieth Century

John Gormley election poster for the Green Party. Has the text 'Others promise the moon only we guarantee the earth!' in black and green. Shows a black and white picture of the view of earth from the moon and one of John Gormley.

The Irish Green Party was founded in 1981 as the Ecology Party, changing its name to the Green Party in 1987. This poster is from the 1989 general election, the first time that the party used pictures of the candidates; they had been wary of the ‘cult of personality’ in politics. That’s why the picture of the earth is the same size as the picture of the candidate. The Greens did much better than anyone expected in the election, but no one in the party had much political acumen, so they only won one seat. John Gormley was eventually elected to Dublin City Council in 1991, served as Lord Mayor from 1994-95, and later led the party in a coalition with Fianna Fáil.

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