A major collection of War of Independence memorabilia has been purchased by the Government.
Minister for the Arts John O'Donoghue paid €3.5 million for the Stanley Collection which will be housed in the National Museum.
The 500 items, assembled by Easter 1916 'printer' Joe Stanley will give scholars and history buffs an unprecedented insight into Ireland's struggle for independence.
Manuscripts, correspondence, printed material and prison sketches from the 1916 to 1921 period are included. Stanley's extensive archive from his time in Frongoch internment camp in Wales is featured as well as etchings of Irish prisoners in Wakefield Prison.
Stanley came to prominence during the 1916 Easter Rising when he printed a series of 'War Bulletins' issued by Patrick Pearse. He was entrusted with printing Pearse's hand-written drafts and the collection includes two manuscripts in Pearse's own handwriting.
One is Pearse's original three-page draft of a proclamation in which the provisional Government 'salutes the citizens of Dublin on the momentous occasion of the proclamation of a Sovereign, Independent Irish State', which Stanley published on April 26th, 1916.
The original draft of the first war bulletin declaring that 'An Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin on Easter Monday, 24th April at 12 noon' is also included. Mr O'Donoghue said the National Museum had an interest in acquiring this material for some time.
Pearse's proclamation and the draft of the first 'War Bulletin' will be housed in the 1916 exhibition at Collins Barracks as soon as possible.
"Coupled with the acquisition a number of weeks ago of Pearse's last letters, the Stanley Collection places the National Museum of Ireland in a unique position to present the story of that incredible period in our history," the minister said.