Old IRA Dublin Brigade

[VGarland]

Hi,

My Grandfather, Mathew Tone Garland has an inscription on his gravestone "Late, 3rd Batt. Old I.R.A and I remember his funeral in 1969 when there was an Irish army honour guard. Any idea how I can find out more about the history of 3rd Battalion / Dublin Brigade?

[capel street man]

Hello VGarland, and welcome to the forum

Check out the BMH Witness Statements, and the Military Service Pension Collection

If you are not familiar with the above sites, put in 3rd Battalion Dublin Brigade, there is a wealth of information on this Batt. on the internet

Good luck and let us know how you get on

CSM

[hasta]

Mathew Tone Garland  doesn't seem to have made a pension application, but his brother Patrick did
http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/detail.aspx?parentpriref=

[VGarland]

Thanks for that! He never applied.....said he didn't fight for a pension, he fought for Ireland! My grand uncle Patrick's pension application makes interesting reading. I've also found some interesting reading online about Dublin Brigade 3rd battalion.

[sue goldstiver]

To: Liam Galway

I have written a short book about Martha Murphy (nee Kelly) who was involved in the Easter Rising and subsequent conflicts. She was later granted a pension and her application was supported by written submissions from a number of supporters including a John (Jack) Grace who knew Martha and also her husband Michael Murphy who was in the 2nd Brigade. Please let me know if you would like a copy of the letter.

[Liam Galway]

Sue, very many thanks! Have read a lot of the pension applications but hadn't come across that one - it was great to see his handwriting again. Are you related to Martha? She sounds like a remarkable woman. Could you also let me know the name of your book as I would like to get a copy.

many thanks again

[sue goldstiver]

Hi Liam

Sorry for the delay in replying. I've checked with my client who is Martha's granddaughter living here in Australia, and she is happy for you to buy a copy of the book. I write and produce books for clients and charge only printing costs for any books ordered. Martha's book is available through Blurb - an online bookstore - just search for Martha Kelly. Let me know if you have any trouble finding it and I'll send a link. The cost will be about $12 Australian, plus roughly the same in postage if you are in Ireland.   

I'm actually fascinated by the process of the interviews that Jack did, especially the issues of awarding pensions to people such as Martha who had been fighting against the state in the Civil War. I loved reading the direct excerpts from the interviews which were the only hint of the real woman I portray in the book. There seemed to be hints of downplaying the role of women so it was wonderful to see someone like your grandfather smash that with his statement, especially given his position on the board. I was cheering him on from a distance of many years in the future :-)   

[fabfamilyTree]

Hi Does anyone have any record of a Thomas O' Grady?  Born 1902 in Aughrim, Wicklow then lived James St, Dublin. Known in family to be a member of IRA, the story is that as a result of his involvement and after a friend/contemporary was captured and killed,  he left Dublin for USA in 1929 leaving behind his young family. Any information or advice on search welcome .

[Sinann]

To my thinking (happy to be corrected) the dates don't quite add up, once the Civil War ended in 1923, there wasn't much activity for his friend to get captured in.
Keep in mind that the British left in 1922 so if Thomas and his friend was still active in the 'Old' IRA after 1922 it means he was anti-treaty and his 'enemy' would be the Irish National Army/ Irish Free State.

I'm not saying the family story isn't true but it may turn out it lost something in the telling over the years.