State Heraldic Museum

The State Heraldic Museum was a collection housed on Kildare Street in Dublin that displayed corporate and civic coats of arms alongside heraldic banners of Irish Chiefs of the Name. The exhibitions spread across several rooms, with each area showing different aspects of Irish heraldry.

The museum was founded in 1909 and operated actively in Dublin until 2007. During its existence it held significant pieces including the arms of Ireland from the Houses of Parliament in College Green.

The museum displayed objects like Daniel O'Connell's funeral hatchment and the Irish Lord Chancellor's purse, showing how heraldry connected to Irish ceremonies and official traditions. These pieces revealed the role that coats of arms played in state rituals and national identity.

The museum is no longer accessible at its original location, as the collections have been integrated into other institutions. Information about the objects can now be found on the National Library of Ireland's website.

The museum maintained extensive records of coats of arms that allowed visitors to trace family lineages and property ownership histories in Irish society. These records often served as the only documented source for family genealogy and social standing across generations.

Inception: 1909

Website: http://nli.ie/en/heraldic-museum.aspx

GPS coordinates: 53.34180,-6.25451

Latest update: December 14, 2025 15:02