Dev’s shaving mug donated to museum

A SHAVING mug issued to Eamon de Valera when he was imprisoned in Lincoln jail has been donated to a museum in Limerick.

The mug was brought out by Michael Colivet, a Sinn Féin TD, who was interned at the same time.

The mugs were passed on to Brian Colivet by his father. He recently contacted the Jim Kemmy Municipal Museum, offering to donate them.

Assistant curator Brian Hodkinson said: “It’s wonderful when you get a donation like this.

“As well as the shaving mugs we have got Michael Colivet’s Volunteer uniform jacket and cap and papers, not personal papers, but paperwork to do with the Republican movement, leaflets from one of de Valera’s election campaigns and the like.”

Mr Colivet was a colonel in the Irish Volunteers and was elected for Sinn Féin in Limerick but he did not make it to the first Dáil as he was in jail in England.

Mr Hodkinson said: “We don’t know if Dev gave his shaving mug to Michael Colivet before he was sprung from Lincoln prison with the help of Michael Collins. The shaving mugs have been handed down in the Colivet family and we are now delighted they have been donated to the museum.”

On release from Lincoln jail, Michael Colivet was re-elected a TD in 1921 and voted against the Anglo Irish Treaty, criticising Michael Collins acceptance of dominion status.

Mr Hodkinson said some work will have to be carried out on the mugs and other items given by the Colivet family before they are put on display.