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189
1916 Richmond Barracks, dinner gong Men’s Mess
A dinner gong fashioned from a 12lb artillery shell case, suspended from a timber and brass frame. The timber crosspiece
inscribed MENS MESS RICHMOND BKS”. The base of the shell case stamped “HMY HELGA THE CALL TO ARMS - LIBERTY
STRIKES”. The base of the frame centred by circular, domed, copper boss stamped around the edge “G. P. O. MCMXVI -
BLACKADDERS BOYS - THE CALL TO ARMS - RICHMOND BKS”. A fascinating object.”
Purchased by the current owner in Islington Market in 1987. Although now living in Ireland, at the time of purchase she
was a Japanese student living in London, with no connections to Ireland, who liked the gong because it was reminiscent of
a Shinto temple bell.
HMY Helga” refers to the armed auxiliary patrol yacht of that name, armed at the front with a QF twelve-pounder coastal
defence gun. On 25 April 1916 the Helga sailed from Dún Laoghaire to shell Boland’s Mills, and on the following day fired
over the loop line railway bridge at Liberty Hall and at the GPO and surrounding areas.Of the leaders of the Rising arrested
in Dublin, Pearse and Heuston were held at Arbour Hill, Connolly was held in the Red Cross hospital in Dublin Castle, and
all the others were held at Richmond Barracks. Apart from that of Connolly, whose court-martial was in Dublin Castle, the
courts-martial were held at Richmond Barracks. General Blackadder presided over this court. Richmond Barracks continued
as the principal detention centre for rounded up rebel soldiers in the aftermath of the rising.”
15_ x 10_in. (39.37 x 26.67cm)
Estimate €800-€1,200 £590-£880
Large Image & Place Bid 189