Old IRA Dublin Brigade

[Magell14]

Just to say that I today received an acknowledgement from Renmore to my application.  The letter says that they have found a file reference but that it will take "some months" before they get back to me.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[mayhem15]

Anyone heard of a John Gannon, known as Jack gannon was imprisoned in Mount joy around 1916.

He was my grandfather's brother, their house was searched quite a few time looking for him. At the time  he was in Mount Joy i have been told there was 2 executions took place in his time there, i will have to clarify the details with family members.

I also have a letter that was written and a poem he wrote i'll get this off my father and post it up.



John from Australia

[Aussie_trekkie]

My Grandfather Michael Kavanagh was in D Company 3rd Batt. He told me may years ago about how he held up the Fire Station in Pearse St while the
Customs House burned. He relate that his orders were not to let any engines leave the station until they were given the Ok The Fire Chief begged him to let them out as Dublin was burning. Bells were going off everywhere and my GF didn't know what was burning. He only knew that his orders where not to let the fire engins leave the station. He said that he told the Fire Chief that if he tried to leave his orders were to shoot. Last year the D4 local newspaper
printed a photo of D Company. They got together every year and marched to St Patrick Church Ringsend for a special Mass. The Army would come and give them a honour guard. I can remember seeing him marching with his mates and looking so proud. Anyone else remember this annual reunion?

[Magell14]

Just checking back with you guys.  I have been doing a bit of  more research and my dreams of my warrior grandad have taken a bit of a pasting.  For one thing his War of Independence medal does not have a bar which means that he was not deemed to have been involved in violent activities. I have a feeling that my grandmother may have exaggerated  a little.  He definitely was involved because I came across his original certificate (I'm posting it up).  If  it turns out that he never shot someone in cold blood I am quite happy with that.  I have a suspicion that his pension file will reveal very little because he was well known  to the likes of Traynor and Colley and they would probably have vouched for him without having to go into much detail on his application.

[Kennethdonnelly]

Add my grandfather Henry C. Kennedy of the E Company, 1st Battalion. On the certificate it is hard to read the officers' names, William somebody and looks like Connell Byrne perhaps. The Brigadier's name is also hard to read.

"Charlie" as he was known met his wife Rose at one of the Cumann's  in Dun Laoghaire against British Rule. They married and had 7 daughters and one son in Dublin. He was a painter by trade.

He was present when Kevin Barry was caught from under the truck. He commented some old Lady yelled "mind the child".

[Ms. Smokestoomuch]

Magell14.
I wouldn't go making up your mind in a snappy way. You do indeed have to be careful of proud relatives. But on the other hand I wouldn't dismiss the pension application.
My grandfather was regarded well by the likes of Traynor and probably others. He was employed as the presidents personal messenger. But he still had a dispute about his pension application. He wrote to the department giving more details of his activies. (And when you see the form you will see the lack of space that each period got.)
One other roots chatter was giving an example of how strict it was : If a volunteer had escaped capture in 1916 he was penalised on his pension as he didn't serve his time in prison. There's a point of truth to that of course but it seems quite strict.

There's a lot of us in trouble if we can't count on the pension.

[Magell14]

Thanks for that, Ms Smokestoomuch.  I suppose I am trying to reduce my expectations so I wont be disappointed.

[Oaks and Acorns]

Just keep an open mind. They were all human and trying to do their best. After it was all over, it was them who had to live with the consequences.

Some spoofed about their contribution, some talked down their involvement, others just told it as they remembered it and some said nothing.

It's up to each of us how we view it in retrospect.

Dara.

[myluck!]

I am fascinated reading all here and a little sad that we have a bit of family history but no-one to ask questions of and nothing to show
I am still waiting for the files from Renmore so live in hope for that
One other point to make was when talking recently, the man I was talking to mentioned that his uncle was in Kilmainham and he took out photographs of him. One was like a postcard with several faces on the card and it read that they were in Kilmainham giving details and year (during WoI)
When I told him he could look for information from Renmore, he told me that his uncle died in relative poverty but would not apply for a pension because "he had fought for his country not for money"
So if any of you don't find any information from pensions don't assume the family history is wrong, there may be another reason for the non-application