Vote for 'An Object for our Times' in museum poll

A new exhibition 'An Object for Our Times' goes on display at the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks, Dublin, from Tuesday 23rd October to Sunday, 2nd December. Over the past two years, the National Museum of Ireland has been working with the Irish Times to select objects telling the history of Ireland from the earliest evidence of human occupation to our own times. These have included objects as diverse as a wicker fish trap of the Middle Stone Age from Lismullin and an emigrant's teapot made of tin, the gloves worn by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne, as well as exquisite objects of great beauty such as the Tara Brooch, many of which can be seen at the National Museum of Ireland. Ninety-nine objects have already been chosen and, with the assistance of the public, ten objects have been selected for display at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, to represent modern Ireland. We are seeking the public's views on which of these ten should represent the 100th object in the series. The objects represent various facets of modern day Ireland and include the original Anglo-Irish Bank sign from St Stephen's Green, the outfits worn by Jean Butler and Michael Flatley in the original production of Riverdance, a pair of gloves worn by Ireland's gold medal-winning Olympic boxer Katie Taylor as well as other objects including a decommissioned IRA rifle, a hospital trolley, a Holy Communion dress, a Certificate of Citizenship, the Euro and a smart phone. Raghnall Ó Floinn, Head of Collections at the National Museum of Ireland commented: "Museums and museum collections are not just about the past. Objects can be powerful repositories of memory through which we can tell stories about ourselves and others. We hope this exhibition will stimulate debate as to what it means to be Irish today." Visitors can vote in person in the Exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, using the ballot paper provided or can vote online by visiting www.100objects.ie which contains information on the ten shortlisted objects. Votes can be cast up to midnight on Sunday, 18th November and the results of the public ballot will be taken into consideration when the 100th object is chosen. All 100 objects will be published in book form by the Royal Irish Academy, in association with the National Museum of Ireland and the Irish Times in March 2013.