15th Release Highlights – The politician who left his pension to the State; an IRA medical officer and a controversial killing; allegations of drunkenness and cowardice in Athlone; intelligence officers; and two authors.

Letter from Oscar Traynor TD, Minister for Defence to his Cabinet colleague Tomás Ó Deirg TD, Minister for Lands in 1954. Ó Deirg was TD for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency where Seán Gibbons' widow and family lived. Note Traynor's anxiety regarding possible political embarrassment in relation to Gibbons bequest to the State. For this and other...

Release 13 highlights – An eyewitness account of WoI killings in Kerry, extraordinary women, and files for TDs, a Judge and IRA and National Army officers

Noteworthy files relating to women MSP34REF30824 Bridget Anne Byrne A Cumann na mBan member in the Ballymacelligott and Tralee areas of County Kerry during the War of Independence and Civil War, her military service pension application was unsuccessful. Bridget Byrne née Bridget McEllistrim is one of six members of her family - including her brother...

From the War of Independence to the European Parliament: Three Fianna Fáil politicians in Release 11

The latest release from the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC) includes material relating to three individuals who served as elected members of Dáil Éireann for the Fianna Fáil political party. Two of them – Gerald Bartley and Michael Hilliard – also held senior ministerial positions in Fianna Fáil governments with Hilliard becoming the only...

The Carrowkennedy ambush in the MSPC (2 June 1921)

Detail from map illustrating the site of the Carrowkennedy ambush from West Mayo Brigade activity file. A34 2 West Mayo Brigade. See below for further excerpts from this file relating to Carrowkennedy and for explanation of markings on the map. On 2 June 1921 at Carrowkennedy the West Mayo Brigade IRA Active Service Unit (ASU)...

Research Snapshot: Clare during the Revolutionary Years

Research conducted for the History Ireland's Hedge School recorded on 8 March 2021. Now available on Spotify. [This Hedge School is supported by Clare County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries programme]. County Clare files in MSPC MEMBERSHIP FILES DIRECT...

The Selton Hill ambush in the MSPC (11 March 1921)

Hand drawn sketch of the ambush at Selton Hill submitted by the Brigade Committee The Selton Hill ambush, also referenced as Glassdrummon or the Gorvagh ambush took place on 11 March 1921 some 8 km from Mohill, County Leitrim. Six members of the IRA were killed and two wounded when surprised by Crown Forces. According...

War of Independence Executions in the MSPC

February 1921 marked a turning point in the number of executions carried out by the British administration in Ireland. By that point in the War of Independence much of Munster and counties in Leinster were under Martial Law. Until February 1921 Kevin Barry had been the only individual executed. Barry had been captured while taking...

The Dromkeen ambush in the MSPC (03 February 1921)

Copy of letter written by Liam Hayes on 5 February 1926 in support of his application for an award in respect of the wound received by him during the Dromkeen Ambush. (Liam Hayes 24SP9676) On 3 February 1921 the East Limerick IRA Brigade Active Service Unit (ASU), under the command of Donnchadh Hannigan, and Mid...

The Kilmichael ambush in the MSPC (28 November 1920)

Extract from An Cosantóir, May 1941 On Sunday the 28th of November 1920, one week after Bloody Sunday, came one of the most infamous events of the Revolutionary Period. Seventeen Auxiliaries (Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary) were killed in an ambush led by the 3 Cork Brigade Active Service Unit (Flying Column) under...

“Bloody Sunday” in the MSPC (21 November 1920)

Blue icons - operations carried out. Yellow icons - planned/unsuccessful operations Extracts from James Bird's sworn statement in support of his military service pension application. Introduction: The coordinated operation to attack suspected British intelligence agents on the morning of 21 November 1920, known as “Bloody Sunday”, was, to that date, the largest single operation undertaken...