Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland

Occupation and Fire
Browse our collection of the incredible photos taken at the time of the 1922 fire

The view from the sky
Aerial photograph of the Public Record Office, with its arched windows, and the Four Counrts, taken during the occupation. RIA 23 M 75. Royal Irish Academy Library
Preparing to defend the Four Courts
William Doyle and unidentified man, Four Courts 1922 KMGLM.2012.0293. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW
On top of the Four Courts
Joe McHenry on the roof of the Four Courts, 1922, with the Record Treasury's arched windows in the background. KMGLM.20PO-3N22-21. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW
In occupation of the Four Courts
The Anti-Treaty garrison gather on the roof of the Four Courts to raise the tricolour. KMGLM.20PC-1B56-02. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW
Waiting
Sean Lemass and Paddy O'Brien on the parapet of the Four Courts. KMGLM.20PC-1B56-02. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW and Eitne O’Brien McKeown
Armoured car
Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW and Eitne O’Brien McKeown
Preparing to fire
National Army troops in firing position on Lower Bridge Street, facing the Four Courts. Agence_Rol_btv1b53084098c. Bibliotheque Nationale de France
The explosion
The explosion. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 43719. Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust
The smoke climbs higher
Moments after the explosion which wrecked the Record Treasury. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 43720 . Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust
The cloud grows
Smoke and debris fill the sky over the Four Courts. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 25129. Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust
Watching the battle
Crowds gather on Wellington Quay to witness the fighting. vtls000218730_001. National Library of Ireland
The shelled Record House.
The Record House, from across Church Street looking through the shell hole to the Search Room inside. Note the sandbags on the parapet, and in the upper windows. vtls000237531. National Library of ireland, Independent Newspapers collection
The Search Room after the battle
A National Army soldier in the ruined Search Room examines equipement used by the Anti-Treaty defenders to make munitions. vtls000610856_001. National Library of Ireland
A tangle of metal
The Record Treasury's metal shelves and walkways melted and tangled by the heat of the fire. vtls000610856_001. National Library of Ireland
Picking up the pieces
On O'Connell Street, collecting scraps of records which fell from the sky following the explosionat the Four Courts. The Graphic, 8 July 1922. Trinity College Library
Sunday Pictorial
Sunday Pictorial newspaper, 2 July 1922. Scenes from the battle. Irish Capuchin Archive
The view from the sky

Aerial photograph of the Public Record Office, with its arched windows, and the Four Counrts, taken during the occupation. RIA 23 M 75. Royal Irish Academy Library

Preparing to defend the Four Courts

William Doyle and unidentified man, Four Courts 1922 KMGLM.2012.0293. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW

On top of the Four Courts

Joe McHenry on the roof of the Four Courts, 1922, with the Record Treasury's arched windows in the background. KMGLM.20PO-3N22-21. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW

In occupation of the Four Courts

The Anti-Treaty garrison gather on the roof of the Four Courts to raise the tricolour. KMGLM.20PC-1B56-02. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW

Waiting

Sean Lemass and Paddy O'Brien on the parapet of the Four Courts. KMGLM.20PC-1B56-02. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW and Eitne O’Brien McKeown

Armoured car

Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum / OPW and Eitne O’Brien McKeown

Preparing to fire

National Army troops in firing position on Lower Bridge Street, facing the Four Courts. Agence_Rol_btv1b53084098c. Bibliotheque Nationale de France

The explosion

The explosion. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 43719. Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust

The smoke climbs higher

Moments after the explosion which wrecked the Record Treasury. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 43720 . Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust

The cloud grows

Smoke and debris fill the sky over the Four Courts. Seen from the roof of Collins (the Royal) Barracks. 25129. Berkshire and Wiltshire Rifles Wardrobe and Museum Trust

Watching the battle

Crowds gather on Wellington Quay to witness the fighting. vtls000218730_001. National Library of Ireland

The shelled Record House.

The Record House, from across Church Street looking through the shell hole to the Search Room inside. Note the sandbags on the parapet, and in the upper windows. vtls000237531. National Library of ireland, Independent Newspapers collection

The Search Room after the battle

A National Army soldier in the ruined Search Room examines equipement used by the Anti-Treaty defenders to make munitions. vtls000610856_001. National Library of Ireland

A tangle of metal

The Record Treasury's metal shelves and walkways melted and tangled by the heat of the fire. vtls000610856_001. National Library of Ireland

Picking up the pieces

On O'Connell Street, collecting scraps of records which fell from the sky following the explosionat the Four Courts. The Graphic, 8 July 1922. Trinity College Library

Sunday Pictorial

Sunday Pictorial newspaper, 2 July 1922. Scenes from the battle. Irish Capuchin Archive

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