By Eimear Ashe, Documentation Officer, National Museum of Ireland 

Copyright © 2023 Eimear Ashe

Click into images at the bottom of the page​ for further information

In museums, cataloguing objects allows us to manage our collections effectively. Cataloguing ensures that all the object details are entered into our database. One activity is to transcribe the handwritten information from our historic records into the database. These handwritten "register" books (dating from 1834 to the present) are a record of the artefacts, specimens, and objects that the museum bought or were given.   

A keen eye is needed to understand the old handwriting. Figure 2 shows an entry from 1888, the record relating to our sunfish. In the register we record the date the object came to the museum, the unique object number, the object name, where it was found, and who donated or sold it to us. Figure 3 shows the object record in our database.  

The Sunfish 

This enormous specimen is much beloved in our collection and public exhibition, inspiring awe from visitors and staff alike. The specimen was collected in Co. Donegal. It was sent to the famous Dublin taxidermist firm Williams & Son to be stuffed and made into the exhibit you can see in the museum today.  

The sunfish is a rare but wonderful sight around the coast of Ireland. The National Biodiversity Data Centre publishes an up-to-date map of sightings on its website. Zoom in to view your own locality! The sunfish feeds on jellyfish and other invertebrates in our waters. According to the IUCN red list, the sunfish is vulnerable to extinction. Like turtles, sunfish can mistake plastic bags for their prey, and suffocate on the inedible material. They can get hit by boats and get caught up in fishing nets intended for other species.  

The Sheriff 

So, where does the sheriff come into it? The donor was William Francis de Vismes Kane. Kane was born in Exmouth but lived in Co. Monaghan. In 1865 he became county Sheriff. The “High Sheriff of Monaghan” was the representative of the British Monarchy in Co. Monaghan. The role was abolished over 100 years ago, when the Irish Free State broke away from the United Kingdom. 

Kane lived in the now derelict, but once beautiful Drumreaske House in Co. Monaghan. He studied and collected Irish insects in particular. He donated many of these animals to the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) as well as numerous marine animals. 

The Benefits 

Why do we do this work? The register details in our database increases our compliance with international museum standards. We are currently working towards publishing our collections on our website and having these extra details in our database means that more records can be shared with the public.  

Like many other natural science collections, we are planning to share data with a global biodiversity website (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility) and with this work we are laying the foundations for a successful outcome.  

The sunfish is on exhibition in the National Musem of Ireland – Natural History, on Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Before you visit, check our website for opening times and other visitor information.