The chalice and other altar vessels used at the wedding of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford in 1916 have been lent to the Office of Public Works (OPW) by St. James’ Parish and the Archdiocese of Dublin for public display in Kilmainham Gaol Museum.
The night before his execution on 3 May 1916, Joseph Plunkett married his fiancé Grace
Gifford in Kilmainham Gaol. The wedding was performed by candlelight in the prison chapel by one of the local priests, Father Eugene McCarthy, from St. James’ Parish. The chalice, ciborium and paten used at the wedding have been preserved by St. James’s Parish and will be shown in the museum’s ‘Last Words’ section, which explores the final days of the 14 leaders executed in Kilmainham after the 1916 Rising.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin “Boxer” Moran said:
“The wedding of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford is one of the most poignant moments in our national story. It is a privilege to see these rare objects go on display at Kilmainham Gaol Museum. I would like to thank St. James Parish and the Archdiocese of Dublin for entrusting us with these important historic artefacts”.
Also on display will be Rose McNamara’s diary account of mass at the Gaol on 7 May 1916, when she saw Con Colbert, Michael Mallin and Éamonn Ceannt in the prion chapel shortly before their execution the next day. A letter written by Michael Mallin to his wife that same day will also be exhibited.
The priests of St. James’ Parish continued to minister to prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol during the War of Independence and this association is commemorated in an inscription on the base of the vessels. A photograph of mass being celebrated in the East Wing of the Gaol shortly before the release of the prisoners from the Gaol in December 1921 also features in the Museum’s current temporary exhibition ‘The Prisoners’ Lens: Secret Photography in Kilmainham Gaol, 1921’. For more information about ‘The Prisoners’ Lens’ exhibit please see link.
Admission to the Museum’s exhibitions is free and is open to the public seven days a week.
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