2022 is an important year for Ireland. It marks the Irish Free State’s 100th anniversary and will feature a number of significant milestones. Irish stamps for 2022 starts with 3 issues showing the handover of Dublin Castle (January 16, 1922), the formation of both the Garda (February 22, 1922) and of the Irish Army (January 21, 1922).
The anniversary actually started in December with stamps for The Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921. The two stamp set featured signatures from the treaty.
It’ll be an interesting and fun year of history for collectors. Dublin Castle has a lot of information to check out about the upcoming celebrations. It’s a rich resource for people who want a deep dive into the country’s history.
Cheers
Catpaw
January
100 Years of History
3 stamps, 3 sheets of 15, 4 FDCs, cancel
Intaglio
- Dublin Castle (January 16, 1922) Dublin Castle | The nerve centre of historical power in Ireland
- formation of both the Garda (February 22, 1922) Our History – Garda
- formation of the Irish Army (January 21, 1922) History of the Army – Defence Forces (military.ie)
Release date: January 13, 2022
Ulysses 100
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
The Stories Stamps Tell:
Designers The Stone Twins.
I would like to thank Garech Stone for reaching out to me. As readers are aware, I love talking about the people who create the stamps we love. Too often we look at stamps in isolation and don’t take into consideration what it takes to bring them life. As well, we rarely take the time to appreciate artists and designers. They are the unsung heroes of our hobby and deserve greater recognition.
I’m insanely excited about bringing details about the Ulysses 100 stamps to you. I hope you enjoy this extra material as much as I do.
The Stone Twins
The Stone Twins is a creative brand consultancy based in Amsterdam. Founded by Irish twin brothers Declan and Garech Stone, the agency specialises in brand identity including naming and verbal identity, concept development and communications. The duo are also authors of the critically acclaimed book ‘Logo R.I.P.’ and former Department Heads at Design Academy Eindhoven. The work of The Stone Twins has won numerous international design awards and been exhibited in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York.
For more information, please visit: www.thestonetwins.com. Check out their site to see more examples of their work.
Previous stamp designs:
2021 & 2019 A Stamp for Ireland, and the 2013 City of Literature (in collaboration with writer Roddy Doyle) to celebrate Dublin’s designation as UNESCO City of Literature.
An Post (the Irish postal service) issues special set of stamps to mark the centenary of the first publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Ulysses is James Joyce’s most famous work and considered to be one of the greatest and most influential pieces of modernist literature. Joyce began working on the novel in 1914 and Ulysses was first published as a complete volume on February 2nd 1922 (Joyce’s 40th birthday).
The design, by Amsterdam-based The Stone Twins, overlays the colours and structure defined in Joyce’s ‘Gilbert Schema’ with photographs from the JJ Clarke collection.
The ‘Gilbert Schema’ was produced by James Joyce in order to help readers understand the enormous complexity of Ulysses. Joyce recognised that readers needed some support in grasping the nuanced allusions and intricate structures.
The celebrated photographs of JJ Clarke (1879-1961) offer a glimpse into James Joyce’s Dublin at the turn of the last century. The figures in the scenes could easily have appeared in Ulysses, and been passed by Stephen Dedalus or Leopold Bloom as they wander through Dublin on 16th June 1904.
Once again, thank you Garech for supplying so much context to this set.
James Joyce’s ground breaking novel was published Feb 02, 1922. If you’ve never read this epic, then dip your brains into it at the Ulysses – THE JAMES JOYCE CENTRE.
Trinity College Dublin will run a symposium on Ulysses in June 2022 – School of English – Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Release date: January 27, 2022
February
LOVE
1 stamp in a booklet of 10, FDC, cancel
lithography
Designer: Alan Dunne
Irish illustrator Alan Dunne’s 2019 Christmas stamps were shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2020.
Release date: February 3, 2022
March
Irish Women in Sport
6 stamps in booklet form, FDC, cancel
multi-coloured on metallic silver
- Sonia O’Sullivan, Ireland’s most successful track and field female athlete, winning 16 major World, European and Olympic medals
- Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female top jockey at Cheltenham and the first female Aintree Grand National winner.
- Ireland Women’s Hockey Team, silver medallists at the 2018 World Cup, who have again qualified for the finals in 2022.
- Ellen Keane for whom winning a gold medal in 2021 capped a memorable 14-year Paralympics journey for the swimmer
- Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor, both of whom are Olympic boxing gold medallists, and Katie Taylor is a world professional titleholder.
Designer: Unthink
Release date: March 3, 2022
Irish Oscar Winners
4 stamps in booklet format, FDC, cancel
- Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker, winners of Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress for ‘My Left Foot’ in 1990
- Neil Jordan, winner of Best Screenplay for ‘The Crying Game’ in 1993
- Martin McDonagh, winner of Best Live Action Short Film for ‘Six Shooter’ in 2006
- Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for Best Original Song in ‘Once’ in 2008.
Designer: Red&Grey
Release date: March 24, 2022
April
Irish Breakfasts
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 16
lithography
The theme was a perfect one for me, Irish Breakfasts. It was such a good fit that as soon as I had the brief in my little hands I was easily inspired. There had to be The Irish Fry (no baked beans, puhleese), Porridge was a no brainer (even though I’m not a huge fan of the texture of cooked porridge), the range of Irish Breads – soda farls, brown soda loaf – are items that I make and grace my breakfast table regularly and yes, I do enjoy a fruity Smoothie particularly during the summer! My favourite breakfast* treat, a simple boiled egg and soldiers, was chosen for the First Day Cover envelope. Hurray!
Ailbhe Phelan April 28, 2022
Designer: Ailbhe Phelan
Phelan wrote about designing this series on her blog Irish breakfasts stamp Collection — Ailbhe Phelan.
Release date: April 28, 2022
May
Coláistí Samhraidh
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
A summer trip to the Gaeltacht is a rite of passage in Irish life, and for many teens, marks their first trip away from home and parents. More than 25,000 students will visit Coláistí Samhraidh in almost 40 locations this year. The new stamps feature iconic objects associated with the Coláistí Samhraidh experience including bacon and cabbage, sport, music, céilí dancing, first loves, fón póca bans, changeable Irish weather and of course – writing and receiving letters! Media centre | An Post
Designer: Detail Design Studio
Detail is a Dublin based design company. Previous designs include 2021 Pride, UN Sustainability, 2019 Organ Donation, 2018 An Post Centenary and 2016 Irish Dogs
Release date: May 26, 2022
June
Bloomsday Festival 2022
Special cover and cancel release to celebrate 100th anniversary release of Ulysses. Home | Ulysses100
Released for the Bloomsbury Festival.
Ulysses: Celebrating 100 years of a literary masterpiece – BBC News
Release date: June 16, 2022
Centenary of the Irish Civil War
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 16
Artwork Commencement of Hostilities, shows the burning of the Four Courts in Dublin
Dublin Castle’s website has a good primer on the Irish Civil War. Introducing Ireland 1922: Independence, Partition, Civil War | Century Ireland (rte.ie). If you are unfamiliar with the history of Ireland, this should be your first starting point.
Designer: Image Now
Artist: Mick O’Dea
Release date: June 23, 2022
August
Centenary of the Death of Michael Collins
1 stamp, sheet of 16 , FDC, cancel
lithography
Sales of the FDC have been in such demand, An Post has limited sales to 5 per customer.
Stamp issued to commemorate death of Michael Collins – The Irish Times
An Post have also produced a commemorative First Day Cover (envelope) which carries the new stamp and a specially designed cancellation mark featuring Collins’ name in similar typeface to that on the Béal na Bláth monument. In a break from tradition, and marking Collins’ Cork background, the cancellation mark includes the designation ‘Corcaigh.’ Media centre | An Post
A timeline of Michael Collins’ death in August 1922 (irishcentral.com)
Michael Collins: From Treaty to Civil War (rte.ie)
A Short History of Michael Collins, Ireland’s ‘Big Fellow’ – The Wild Geese
Man who shot Michael Collins met him before ambush (irishcentral.com)
Designer: Ger Garland
Release date: August 18, 2022
September
Urban Street Art II
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
lithography
Urban artworks in Dublin, Waterford and New Ross featuring the artwork of Aches, Joe Caslin, Caoilfhionn Hanton, Niall O’Lochlainn and Holly Pereira.
An Post is ‘Up The Walls’ with Urban Art stamps! | Meath Chronicle
Therapy- Joe Caslin, located at Montague Lane, Dublin, aims to normalise therapy for young men. A mural of ‘Jack Charlton’ by Caoilfhionn Hanton/Niall O’Lochlainn, situated near Slievekeale Road and Barrack Street in Waterford, pays homage to the former Irish football coach. Media centre | An Post
Designer: Shaughn McGrath Creative
Release date: September 2, 2022
EUROPA 2022 — Stories and Myths
2 stamps
more images coming when set released
Balor
Balor was the king of the supernatural beings called the Fomorians. This myth is focused on one aspect “Balor’s eye“. “Balor (also known as Balar) was the king of the Fomorians. Like the Cyclops, he had only one magical eye that was known as “the evil eye” and it was Balor’s greatest weapon. Only one glance from his eye could kill.” (From Giant Balor of the Evil Eye, see link below.)
There are a lot of good sources online to read up on Balor. Start with Balor – Ireland’s Lore and Tales (irelandsloreandtales.com) and Giant Balor Of The Evil Eye – Terrifying Fomorian King And Grandfather Of Celtic God Lugh – Ancient Pages.
Release date: September 1, 2022
November
Christmas 2022
6 stamps, FDC, cancel booklets of 5
Designer: Unthink
Release date: November 3, 2022
Centenary of the Death of Erskine Childers DSC (1870-1922)
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 16
The Riddle of Erskine Childers (thelondoneconomic.com)
Erskine Childers: Author, Irish Gunrunner, Churchill’s Bête Noire – The Wild Geese
Erskine Childers executed over possession of a pistol (irishtimes.com)
The boat on the FDC was Childers’ yacht Asgard, that he used to smuggle weapons into Ireland for the Irish Volunteers
Artist: The Intelligence Man’, by Mick O’Dea PPRHA
Designer: Ger Garland
Release date: November 24, 2022
December
Centenary of Saorstát Éireann (Irish Free State)
1 stamp, sheets of 16, FDC, cancel
Artist: Brian Gallagher
Brian Gallagher was winner of a 2021 contest for the design commemorating the establishment of the Irish Free State.
The illustration features corncrakes emerging from a long meadow, symbolising the ideal of freedom and new beginnings. An old tower house with a frayed tricolour depicts the difficult, long road to some form of independence. A crack running down the tower house hints at signs of schism of the Civil War and alludes to the division between nationalism and unionism. The original black and white scraperboard artwork has two colours, green and orange, added digitally. National Stamp (Saorstát Éireann) (anpost.com)
He has won awards for:
Royal Ulster Academy of Arts- Print Prize 2019
World Illustration Awards Winner 2016– Public Realm
He also illustrated some of the images in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2022 Best Irish-published book of the year for An Irish Folklore Treasury by John Creedon.
He uses a variety of styles, from digital to painting and linocuts.
Designer: Ger Garland
Release date: October 13, 2022
Tenth Definitive Stamp Series ‘Art on a Stamp’
12 stamps
Release date: tba
Enjoy Ireland’s 2021 stamp series
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