A revolver owned by Éamon de Valera has been donated to the National Museum of Ireland by Éamon Ó Cuív.
Mr de Valera received the revolver in New York in 1919 and then gave it to a relative in Rochester.
According to the family's oral history, the gun was gifted to Mr de Valera when he arrived in New York in June 1919 to promote the Irish Republic in his role as President of Dáil Éireann.
He spent 18 months in the US raising money and political support for the Irish Republic.
"It is likely that de Valera was given the revolver when he arrived by one of the Irish already there, such as Liam Mellows or Harry Boland, or a member of the Irish American groups such as Clan na Gael – Joseph McGarrity," the museum said.
It is believed he was given the revolver for self protection.
At the time both his mother and her sister and family were living in Rochester.
He gave the revolver to his cousin Mary Connolly who in turn gave the gun to her grandson Allen Johnson.
In 2019, Mr Ó Cuív and his wife Áine were invited to the St Patrick's Day parade in Rochester.
Mr Johnson presented Mr Ó Cuiv with the revolver, which he then decided to donate to the National Museum.
"It was both a great surprise and pleasure to be gifted this special memento of the historic visit by Éamon de Valera a hundred years previously and to rekindle the historic connection between Rochester New York and Ireland's struggle for independence," he said.
"I will always be deeply indebted to Allen for the generosity he showed in making this gift to me and my wife Áine," he added.
The revolver was presented to Director of the National Museum of Ireland Lynn Scarff.
She noted that the NMI was honored to receive the donation, which will add to the national collection and be retained securely for future generations at the National Museum of Ireland.
